National 7s Circuit defending Champions KCB Rugby kicked off this year’s local sevens circuit with a 31-14 win over Western Bulls as the Bankers seek to defend their crown.
Mwamba Rugby Club, Strathmore Leos MMUST Rugby Club, Homeboyz and Menengai Oilers also posted impressive starts in the 2022 Kabeberi 7s at RFUEA Grounds on Saturday.
In the first match of the tournament, fast-rising Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) upset Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup Champions Kabras RFC winning 17-12.
Reinhard Ngaira, Lameck Ambetsa and Erick Cantona scored a try each for MMUST with two conversions coming from John Bahati to cancel Malik Habil and Keith Embwaga’s tries for Kabras.
In another fixture Strathmore Leos defeated Nondies 19-10 with the students posting two converted tries and one unconverted which were enough to put the game beyond Nondies.
Kabeberi 7s defending Champions and hosts Mwamba registered a win after beating Mean Machine 32-0 to pick three points.
A well-oiled Menengai Oilers beat Kenya Harlequin 24-14 with new signing Mark Kwemoi.
Dennis Abukuse went over the try box for the Nakuru-based squad. Ngong road-based Homeboyz RFC who are the 2016 and 2018 Champions also kicked off their campaign with a 29-0 win.
The deejays became the second side to keep a clean sheet in the opening round.
Richel Wangila bagged a brace while Captain Jan Remke, Brian Mutugi and Paul Akatch scored in the win.
Impala Saracens won their opener against Northern Suburbs scoring four tries for a 24-10 win.
Nakuru RFC also kicked off their season impressively beating 2019 National 7s Circuit division II winners Daystar 24-7.
The returning annual George Mwangi Kabeberi Sevens tourney sees the return of the local circuit after a two-year hiatus.
The return has ignited huge excitement in the local rugby scene with teams promising a mighty rivalry renewal whereby only the teams that had a good pre-season will have better odds in the shorter version of the game.
According to the Kenya Rugby Union chairman Gangla Oduor, the circuit will bring back the Sevens thrill and feel after a long wait spelt by the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Sevens players were getting comfortable, but the good thing is that circuit is back.
This is a great moment for us to select the best and for our current Sevens players, they now have to show that indeed they are the boss in this game.
There is so much excitement and anticipation ahead of Kabeberi, and we hope fans can turn up in large numbers to support all the 32 teams in both divisions,” Oduor said.
