- The 25/26 Kenya Cup Round 1 will kick off on Saturday, November 22, across various venues in the country.
- Six fixtures are scheduled for the day, headlined by defending champions Kabras Sugar, who will take on MMUST at the ASK Kakamega Showground.
- Kick-off for five of the fixtures will be at 4:00 p.m., while Kenya Harlequins vs Nakuru RFC will begin earlier at 3:00 p.m.
Kenya Cup, the premier national 15s rugby competition, is set to kick off its 55th edition on Saturday, November 22, with thrilling six fixtures scheduled across various venues in the country.
As in previous seasons, the 12 participating clubs will battle each other in a round-robin format, meeting once before advancing to the knockout stage, with the tournament running through April 2026, culminating in the semifinals and final.
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25/26 Kenya Cup Round 1 preview
This Saturday promises thrilling encounters, headlined by the Lurambi Derby which pits the reigning champions Kabras Sugar against the newly-promoted Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).
This clash will take place at the ASK Showground in Kakamega, with a 4:00 PM EAT kick-off, a start time consistent across all opening-day fixtures.
The Sugar Millers are on a quest for a fifth consecutive title, having dominated the competition for the last four years (2022-2025).
Furthermore, the side coached by Carlos Katywa will be aiming to extend an unbeaten streak that spans the last three seasons.
Their last defeat dates back to February 2022, when they fell 28-20 to KCB Rugby.
They will be looking to start this campaign on the right foot against MMUST team that earned promotion by defeating Zetech Oaks in the second division, securing their second-ever appearance in the top flight.
For their part, MMUST will be aiming to solidify their status, beginning with a formidable opponent to whom they suffered a 21-0 defeat in their debut season back in 2022.
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Elsewhere, the 2025 finalists, Menengai Oilers, return with a burning desire to claim their maiden Kenya Cup title. They narrowly missed the trophy last year in a nail-biting final, losing by a single point (28-27) to Kabras.
That was their second final appearance after 2022, and having secured back-to-back Impala Floodlit titles, their morale is high as they aim to challenge the Sugarmen’s dominance in Kenyan rugby.
The Gibson Weru-charged Oilers will begin their campaign against the Daystar Falcons at the ASK Showground in Nakuru.
The Falcons made history last season by defeating the Catholic Monks in the KRU Championship to earn promotion.
They will be seeking to make a strong impression in the 15s game, buoyed by a decent outing in the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit a few weeks ago.
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Meanwhile, as these two encounters unfold, four other matches are scheduled within Nairobi at different venues.
KCB Rugby will be aiming to start strongly as they pursue their first title since their last win in 2021. They will welcome Impala RFC to the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka.
Just a few kilometers away along Thika Road, a university derby will see Kenyatta University Blak Blad take on Strathmore Leos.
Simultaneously, the record champions, Nondescripts, will be aiming to recapture their former glory when they host Kisumu RFC at the Ngong Racecourse.
Meanwhile, at the RFUEA Grounds, Kenya Harlequins will host Nakuru RFC in the day’s sole match that kicks off at the earlier time of 3:00 PM EAT.
25/26 Kenya Cup Round 1 Fixtures (Saturday, November 22)
- Kabras Sugar v Masinde Muliro – ASK Showground, Kakamega – 4:00 pm EAT
- Menengai Oilers v Daystar Falcons – ASK Showground, Nakuru – 4:00 pm
- KCB Rugby v Impala – KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka – 4:00 PM
- Nondescripts v Kisumu RFC – Ngong Racecourse – 4:00 pm
- KU Blak Blad v Strathmore Leos – Kenyatta University – 4:00 pm
- Kenya Harlequin FC v Nakuru RFC – RFUEA Grounds – 3:00 pm