Holders Strathmore Leos crash out of Embu 7s as big guns stay perfect on day one

• KCB Rugby, Kabras Sugar, and Menengai Oilers all won all three of their pool matches to comfortably top Pools A, C, and B respectively.
• Varsity side Daystar Falcons emerged as the day’s surprise package, finishing unbeaten (2 wins, 1 draw) to top Pool D ahead of Mwamba RFC.
• Four-time defending champions Strathmore Leos and hosts Embu RFC both failed to qualify for the Main Cup quarterfinals, dropping to the bowl.

The fifth leg of the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit kicked off on Saturday at Embu Stadium, delivering drama as four-time defending champion Strathmore Leos were dumped out of Main Cup contention.

Heavyweights KCB Rugby, Menengai Oilers, and Kabras Sugar asserted their dominance to top their respective pools alongside an impressive Daystar Falcons unit.

The headline story belonged to varsity outfit Daystar Falcons, who stunned the National Sevens Circuit by finishing unbeaten to top Pool D.

ALSO READ: Why Embu 7s 2026 is a deal breaker for SportPesa 7s defending champions KCB Rugby

Circuit leaders KCB Rugby opened Pool A with a 22-5 victory over KU Blak Blad before dispatching Kisumu RFC 39-12. The Bankers sealed top spot in emphatic fashion by blanking MSC Rugby 52,-0 in Round 3. KU Blak Blad advanced alongside KCB as pool runners-up following a 19-19 draw against Kisumu RFC.

In Pool B, Menengai Oilers edged past Kenya Harlequin 19-10 and routed hosts Embu RFC 32-0. They secured the top seed in a tight 5-0 victory over NYS Spades. Harlequin recovered to claim second place and a spot in the last eight after beating NYS Spades (17-0) and Embu RFC (34-12).

It was a disappointing outing for hosts Embu RFC, who finished bottom of the log with 3 points (-82 PD) after failing to capitalize on home advantage and dropping all three matches to fall into the bowl Cup.

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In Pool C, Kabras Sugar mirrored the top seeds by sweeping their matches to claim 9 points (+58 PD), routing Nakuru RFC 28-0, shutting out defending champions Strathmore Leos 16-0, and seeing off Nondescripts RFC 21-7.

Nondies secured the runners-up spot on 7 points (-4 PD) with wins over Strathmore (19-14) and Nakuru (5-0). The result meant defending champions Strathmore Leos crashed out to the Challenge Cup.

In Pool C, Kabras Sugar mirrored the top seeds by sweeping their matches to claim 9 points (+58 PD), routing Nakuru RFC 28-0, shutting out defending champions Strathmore Leos 16-0, and seeing off Nondescripts RFC 21-7.

Nondies secured the runners-up spot on 7 points (-4 PD) with wins over Strathmore (19-14) and Nakuru (5-0). The result meant defending champions Strathmore Leos crashed out of the main Cup.

Pool D provided the day’s closest contests. Daystar Falcons captured top spot after seeing off MMUST (14-7) and Zetech Oaks (12-0), before settling for a 19-19 draw against Mwamba RFC. Mwamba secured second place to advance to the quarterfinals.

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QF 1: KCB Rugby vs Kenya Harlequin
QF 2: Daystar Falcons vs Nondescripts RFC
QF 3: Menengai Oilers vs KU Blak Blad
QF 4: Kabras Sugar vs Mwamba RFC

Collated Day one Results.

Round 1
MSC Rugby 12–36 Kisumu RFC
KCB Rugby 22–5 KU Blak Blad
NYS Spades 27–5 Embu RFC
Menengai Oilers 19–10 Kenya Harlequin
Nondescripts RFC 19–14 Strathmore Leos
Kabras Sugar 28–0 Nakuru RFC
Mwamba RFC 14–15 Zetech Oaks
Daystar Falcons 14–7 MMUST

Round 2
MSC Rugby 0–12 KU Blak Blad
KCB Rugby 39–12 Kisumu RFC
NYS Spades 0–17 Kenya Harlequin
Menengai Oilers 32–0 Embu RFC
Nondescripts RFC 5–0 Nakuru RFC
Kabras Sugar 16–0 Strathmore Leos
Mwamba RFC 12–0 MMUST
Daystar Falcons 12–0 Zetech Oaks

Round 3
KU Blak Blad 19–19 Kisumu RFC
Kenya Harlequin 34–12 Embu RFC
Nakuru RFC 7–26 Strathmore Leos
MMUST 22–21 Zetech Oaks
KCB Rugby 52–0 MSC Rugby
Menengai Oilers 5–0 NYS Spades
Kabras Sugar 21–7 Nondescripts RFC
Daystar Falcons 19–19 Mwamba RFC