Women’s category introduced in second edition of Future’s Cup

Following a successful inaugural edition last year, Dream Believe Achieve (DBA) Africa has promised a bigger and better second edition of the Future’s Cup.

This time, the organizers have introduced a women’s category which will see four rugby sides compete. This move underscores a significant step towards inclusivity and celebrates the growing talent pool in women's sports.

The tournament will be held from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 July at the Peponi School in Ruiru, Kenya.

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The rugby competition brings together Under 15 players from different parts of the country who will all battle it out for the ultimate prize. The first edition was held at St Christopher’s International School in Nairobi.

It attracted a total of eight U15 regional teams, including Central, Coastal, Rift Valley, two Nairobi sides, and a team from Kampala.

The 2024 edition will again feature representative under-15 sides from the seven Kenyan regional associations, with an invitational team from Uganda. What makes it even more exciting is that a team from the lakeside region; Nyanza Hurricanes will be competing.

In an exclusive with Mozzart Sport, DBA Africa director Lyle Asiligwa noted that the tournament was keen to provide a pathway and continuity for the young players. As a former player himself, Asiligwa was glad that the tournament was expanding the player pool and giving talented individuals the opportunity to represent their communities and regions on a broader stage.

“It provides a crucial pathway for aspiring young players to test their skills against top competition from across the region. It offers a stepping stone beyond school rugby towards higher representative honors,” he offered.

The Future's Cup is the right step towards improving rugby standards in the country. Starting rugby players young provides them with invaluable opportunities to develop their potential, strengths, and work on areas that need improvement.

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"Investing in age-grade rugby is vital for the long-term success of the sport in Kenya and East Africa. The Futures Cup allows us to identify promising players early, accelerate their development, and build a deeper talent pool for future national team programs," he revealed. 

In addition to the nail-biting on-field action, the Future’s Cup offers a platform for players from diverse backgrounds to integrate, learn from each other, and forge lasting bonds through the rugby community's unique culture. 

Rift Valley Lakers won the inaugural edition following a 10-5 victory over Uganda's Kampala Giants in the final.

Western Hurricanes who were under the tutelage of Kabras RFC's tacticians Edwin Achayo and Max Adaka came in third after seeing off Nairobi Lightning 12-3 in the third-place playoff.

Shimenga Libondo-coached Western Wanderers finished fifth with a 19-5 win over Nairobi Bulldozers.