Mwamba Ladies are the 2026 Prinsloo 7s champions after brushing aside resilient Kiambaa Ladies 19-0 in the main cup final on Sunday afternoon in Nakuru.
While the final belonged to the experienced Mwamba outfit, one of the biggest stories of the tournament was the remarkable rise of a youthful Kiambaa side made up largely of high school players.
The newcomers announced themselves on the national stage with fearless rugby, earning widespread admiration despite falling just one match short of the title.
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Kiambaa had already turned heads earlier in the day after pulling off one of the tournament’s biggest upsets, edging seasoned campaigners Kenya Harlequin 21-17 in a thrilling semifinal.
Their victory showcased composure beyond their years and booked them a dream clash against the competition’s most decorated side.
Mwamba, however, arrived in the final full of confidence after dismantling Impala Roans 36-0 in a one-sided semifinal. Their blend of physicality, defensive discipline and clinical finishing proved too much for every opponent they faced throughout the weekend.
The champions wasted little time imposing themselves in the final. After Kiambaa were penalized deep inside their own half, Mwamba moved the ball quickly and Faith Livoi sliced through the defensive line to score the opening try. Although the conversion drifted wide, the early breakthrough handed Mwamba a deserved 5-0 advantage heading into halftime.
Kiambaa emerged from the break looking to respond, carrying aggressively into contact and attempting to stretch Mwamba’s defensive line. However, Mwamba’s organized defence, marshalled superbly by Tracy, repeatedly shut down the challengers before they could build any momentum.
The pressure eventually paid off at the other end. Livoi turned provider with a perfectly timed offload that sent Irene Opiyo over for Mwamba’s second try, extending the lead to 12-0 and putting the experienced side firmly in control.
Opiyo was again at the heart of the decisive moment as she released Edith Naliaka, who powered over for Mwamba’s third try. Snider added the extras to stretch the advantage to 19-0, effectively sealing another impressive tournament triumph for the Nairobi-based club.
Mwamba’s title run was nothing short of dominant. They opened their campaign with a convincing 31-5 victory over NYS Ladies before dispatching Nakuru Ladies by an identical 31-5 scoreline. They wrapped up the pool stage with a commanding 47-7 win against Impala Roans, a side they later met again in the semifinals, cruising to a comprehensive 36-0 victory to book their place in the championship match.
Although Kiambaa fell at the final hurdle, their campaign will be remembered as one of the standout stories of the tournament. They began with a convincing 36-0 triumph over Northern Suburbs before suffering their only defeat of the weekend, a 41-5 loss to Kenya Harlequin. The youngsters bounced back brilliantly by brushing aside Pioneer Ladies 20-0 to reach the semifinals.
Their meeting with Harlequin offered the perfect chance for redemption, and Kiambaa grabbed it with both hands. Displaying fearless attacking rugby, relentless work at the breakdown and tremendous defensive commitment, they stunned the experienced side 21-17 to reach an unlikely final.
Despite leaving Nakuru without the trophy, Kiambaa Ladies depart with their heads held high after an exceptional debut on the National Sevens Circuit. Their fearless brand of rugby and ability to challenge established clubs signals the arrival of a promising new force in Kenyan women’s rugby, while Mwamba once again proved why they remain the team every challenger must overcome.