Special Edition February 2021
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SPECIAL EDITION FEBRUARY 2021 KKRRUU@@5500 FOREWORD Firstly let me apologise for the late release of this edition. We dIecideNd to do a bumper commemorative edition and underestimated the scope of work, sorry about that. In celebrating 50 years of the Kenya Rugby Union, we go down several mTemory Hlanes witIh vaSried memories, but all a celebration of our existence so far. My personal recollection would also go down quite a way, being nearly age mates, and having experienced most of the tIransfSormatiSon thatU has ocEcurred. The early sevens years, the beginning of the women’s game in Kenya, the transition or transformation as others call it, and the re-emergence or congruence of diverse pathways to the game. All make for a very exciting journey. We hope to have a souvenir print edition of just this copy, so stay close to us. Welcome and enjoy the trip. Thomas Odundo Director of Rugby Kenya Rugby Union IN THIS ISSUE EDITORIAL PAST KRFU/KRU CHAIRMEN We talk to past KRFU/KRU Chairmen - George Kariuki, Dennis Awori, Mwangi Muthee & Richard Omwela This is a special publication to commemorate 50 ONE ON ONE WITH ODUOR GANGLA years of the Kenya Rugby Union existence ( 1970 We have a chat with current KRU Chair Oduor Gangla -2020). THE BIG INTERVIEW: SAMMY KHAKAME We catch up with legendary Kenya We talk to past and present leaders of the flyhalf Sammy Khakame organization as well as personalities who have INSIGHTS WITH CLIFF MUKULU been in the game. We talk to Cliff Mukulu who has served the game as a player and administrator Enjoy the publication and feel free to give us feedback via email [email protected] A RUGBY SUPER SERIES OVERVIEW Aggrey Chabeda's insights on the Rugby Super Series Michael Kwambo & Wambui Mumbi Kenya Rugby Union PREAMBLE Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) is the governing body for rugby union in Kenya. It was founded in 1970 and is affiliated to Rugby Africa and the international governing IbodNy World Rugby. KRU is responsible for the running of the Kenya national rugby union team, domestic club and age grade rugby competitions. TThe RugbHy Football UInion Sof Kenya (RFU-K) was initially founded in August 1921 and became operational in 1923 with the formation of the first Nairobi clubs, Nondescripts RFC and Harlequin RFC (not the current Kenya Harlequin FC) IIn 19S53 RFU-KS was joineUd by the ruEgby unions of Tanganyika and Uganda to form the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) in representing the colonies of British East Africa. RFU-K was dissolved in 1956, with already existing district unions dealing directly with RFUEA. In 1970, the decision was made to merge the district unions and form the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) under the umbrella of the RFUEA. Following the adoption of a constitutional amendment in 2010, the word “Football” was dropped from Kenya Rugby Football Union, paving the way for the organization to be known as the Kenya Rugby Union. HIGHLIGHTS 1970: The Kenya Rugby Football Union (now known as the Kenya Rugby Union) is formed The Kenya Cup is played for the first time with Impala winning five titles between 1970 and 1974. 1972: ITedN Kabetu becomes the first indigenous black Kenyan to play for the East Africa Tuskers in a fixture against English club side Richmond RFC. Chris Onsotti becomes the first indigenous black Kenya to play as a forward for Tthe TuskHers during tIheir toSur of Ireland. 1973: Kenyan invitational side Scorpions stun visiting London Wasps at the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi I SSUE 1974: Miro RFC, an invitational side consisting entirely of indigenous black Kenyans is formed 1975: Jackson Omaido, a school boy at Lenana School represents the Tuskers, playing at fly half during their tour of Zambia 1977: Mean Machine, a team comprised of University of Nairobi students, is formed. They win the country’s top tier club competition, the Kenya Cup, at their first time of asking. Mwamba RFC is registered as a club in October of the same year with the aim to promote rugby among indigenous Kenyans. Instructive to note it is formed by departing members of Mean Machine who had completed their studies at the University of Nairobi. It is also around this time that a number of students from rugby playing schools are admitted at the Kenyatta College. Their impact will be felt on the Kenyan game in years to come. In 1972, Ted Kabetu (shirt 14) became the first black player to feature for the East Africa IN Tuskers THIS Mean Machine and Nondies in 1978 Kenya ISCup action.SUE The Kenya squad that hosted Zambia in 1980 HIGHLIGHTS 1980: George Kariuki takes over the Chairmanship of the Kenya Rugby Football Union, becoming the first indigenous black Kenyan to lead the game. 1981: Kenya is the first team to play a test match against newly independent Zimbabwe, losing that fixture at the RFUEA Ground 34-24. I1982:N Invitational touring side Watembezi Pacesetters is formed. They win the Dubai Sevens. 1983: TMwamba RHFC win the IKenyaS Cup, interrupting Nondescripts stranglehold on the local league. Watembezi Pacesetters successfully defend their Dubai Sevens title I SSUE 1985: Kenya sensationally stretch Zimbabwe in a hard fought test match in Nairobi, going down 15-13 at the RFUEA Ground. The Kenya Rugby Football Union receives an official invite to send a team to the Hong Kong Sevens. This is on the strength of the Watembezi Pacesetters performances at the Dubai Sevens a few years earlier. 1986: Kenya competes in its first ever international sevens tournament, the Hong Kong Sevens. The Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) , is formed with Kenya among the founder members. The organization is now known as Rugby Africa. Watembezi Pacesetters won the Dubai Sevens in 1982 IN and 1983 THIS The Kenya squad IthatS narrowlyS lost UE 15-13 to Zimbabwe in 1985 An undated Barclays Bank RFC group photo. They won the 1987 Kenya Cup HIGHLIGHTS 1987: Barclays Bank become the latest team to interrupt Nondescripts dominance by winning the Kenya Cup. The Enterprise Cup is not played for the first time since the World War II break as a result of Kenya hosting the All African Games which included rugby. 1988: IDennNis Awori takes over the Chairmanship of the Kenya Rugby Football Union 1989 Mean Machine win their second Kenya Cup title, 12 years after their maiden title Tin 1977. HIS Kenya Commercial Bank RFC is formed in the aftermath of Kenya Breweries RFC’s disbandment. I1990SSUE Mean Machine, inspired by Edward Rombo retain the Kenya Cup title. Rombo turns in scintillating performances with the Watembezi Pacesetters at the Singapore Cricket Club,eventually turning professional with English Rugby League side, Leeds. Kenya becomes an affiliate of the International Rugby Board, currently known as World Rugby. The first ever Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association national rugby championship takes place in Nairobi. Lenana School are the inaugural champions with a 36-6 defeat of Kakamega High School in the final. The inaugural winners trophy is donated by the KRFU Chairman, Dennis Awori. These championships are the brainchild of the Damu Pevu family, a group of rugby playing students who graduated from the Kenyatta University College and spread the rugby gospel in the schools they were posted to. Exciting winger Edward Rombo turned professional in 1990 with rugby league club Leeds IN THIS Mean Machine IwSon backS to backUE Kenya Cup titles in 1989 and 1990 Kenya officially affiliated to the International Rugby Board in 1990 HIGHLIGHTS 1991 Njoro defeat Musingu 10-8 to win the KSSSA national rugby championship, becoming the first school outside Nairobi to be crowned national schools champions. 1992 Kenya participates at the RWC 7s qualifiers in Catania, Sicily but fails to qualify Ifor thNe 1993 RWC 7s. 1993: Kenya hosts the African qualifiers for the 1995 Rugby World Cup (15s) . The hosts lose 42-7 to Zimbabwe and 60-9 to eventual qualifiers Namibia before defeating TArabian GuHlf 24-23 to Ifinish Sthe qualifying tournament in third place. 1995 Kenya Harlequin win their maiden Kenya Cup title I1996:SSUE The Safari Sevens tournament is played for the very first time in Nairobi at the RFUEA Ground. Kenya again falls short in its quest to qualify for the 1997 RWC 7s, falling short at the qualifiers in Dubai. 1997: Kenya win their maiden Safari Sevens title Kenya’s attempt to qualify for the 1999 Rugby World Cup (15s) is unsuccessful. The Simbas stumble at the second round of qualifying, losing 52-5 away to Tunisia after defeating Arabian Gulf 37-18 in Nairobi. 1998: Nondescripts win the last of their 17 Kenya Cup titles thus far. Kenya plays at the Commonwealth Games Rugby Sevens Competition in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. They exit the tournament with a 35-19 plate quarterfinal loss to Tonga. George Kariuki returns as KRFU Chairman. Public Schools Wanderers won the 1996 Safari Sevens IN TSimbasH squad IS before facing IUgaSnda in 1S997 UE 1997 Kenya Cup action between Nondies and Impala HIGHLIGHTS 1999: Kenya Sevens invited to the Dubai and George legs of the newly inaugurated World Rugby Sevens Series. The Kenya Rugby Football Union launches the National Sevens Circuit, loosely modeled on the World Rugby Sevens Series. 2000: IKenyNa qualify for the 2001 RWC 7s after reaching the final of the African qualifiers in Nairobi. They lose 26-19 to Zmbabwe but that matters little as they become just the fourth team sport after cricket, women’s basketball and women’s volleyball to represent the country at a World Cup. TImpala endH a 26 year wIait foSr the Kenya Cup by beating Kenya Harlequin in the title decider at the RFUEA Ground.