The National Youth Service (NYS) Spades will begin their 2026 National Sevens Circuit campaign with one of the toughest assignments possible after being drawn against defending champions KCB Rugby, Nondescripts RFC and CUEA Monks in Pool C of the Prinsloo 7s, set for this weekend in Nakuru.
It will be a historic moment for the KRU Championship side as they make their maiden appearance in Division One of the National Sevens Circuit, a stage that presents an opportunity to measure themselves against some of Kenya’s most established rugby clubs.
While the draw has handed NYS Spades a stern examination right from the opening weekend, head coach Martin Munga believes his players are ready to embrace the challenge and prove they belong among the country’s elite sevens teams.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Munga expressed confidence in his squad, saying the players have embraced the occasion and are eager to make an impression in their first Division One campaign.
“We thank God. The boys are definitely excited and ready to play on the big stage,” Munga told Two5Four Rugby.
The coach acknowledged the quality of opposition awaiting his side but insisted the team would not be overwhelmed by reputations. Instead, the focus will be on approaching every fixture with discipline and composure.
“We will take it a game at a time,” he said in an interview with Two5Four Rugby.
Captain's shoot ✅
The stage is set, the leaders are locked in, and it's time to #TurnItUp.
For Munga, the key to competing against experienced opponents lies in how his players start each contest. He believes settling into matches quickly and sticking to the team’s tactical plan will be crucial if NYS are to upset more fancied sides.
“It will be key for us to settle in early enough in the game and execute our game plans with cool heads.”
The Prinsloo 7s serves as the opening leg of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit, making every point and every performance significant as teams begin their quest for overall circuit honours.
For NYS Spades, the tournament also represents an opportunity to announce themselves as genuine contenders after earning promotion to the top tier.
Their campaign begins on Saturday morning against CUEA Monks in a 9:20 a.m. EAT kick-off, a fixture that could set the tone for the rest of their weekend.
They will then face the biggest challenge in the pool when they take on defending circuit champions KCB Rugby at 1:00 p.m. EAT before concluding their group-stage matches against the experienced Nondescripts RFC at 3:20 p.m. EAT.
Although NYS head into the competition as newcomers at this level, they will draw confidence from a successful campaign in the KRU Championship, where consistent performances earned them promotion to Division One.
The step up in quality is expected to be significant, but the team sees it as an opportunity to accelerate its development by testing itself against the best.
A positive showing in Nakuru would not only boost confidence within the squad but also provide a strong foundation for the remaining legs of the National Sevens Circuit.
With a youthful group eager to make a statement and a coach who believes in their potential, NYS Spades will be hoping to turn their difficult pool into a platform for growth and perhaps even spring a few surprises.
All eyes will now be on Nakuru as Martin Munga’s charges begin a new chapter in their sevens journey, determined to prove that they can compete with Kenya’s rugby heavyweights from the very first whistle.
Belvine Omondi is a sports journalist who enjoys telling stories across football, volleyball, hockey, rugby and athletics. A trained journalist by profession, formerly worked for Pepeta and now contributes to the Sportpesa blog covering different aspects of sport.
