KRU announces Rugby Super Series franchises teams

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) is not taking a break from ensuring the sports calendar is packed with rugby activities as following the conclusion of the Kenya Cup which Kabras Sugar won last weekend following a 29-5 victory over KCB RFC.

KRU is now gearing up for the return of the Rugby Super Series next month.

KRU had announced the return of the Rugby Super Series after a 10-year hiatus at a press conference last month and has now announced the teams that will make up the four franchise teams that will compete in the tournament which is scheduled to start on May 4, 2024, and run until May 25, 2024.

The four franchise teams are Buffaloes, Cheetahs, Lions, and Rhinos.

For the first time ever, the Rugby Super Series will also feature women’s franchise teams – Eagles and Jaguars.

During the launch of the Rugby Super Series in March 2024, KRU said that the inclusion of the women’s teams in this year competition is to ensure that the game develops equitably.

At the press conference in March, KRU had said that the franchise teams will comprise players drawn from the top four teams at the end of the regular season of the 2023-24 Kenya Cup competition. Those top four teams were Kabras Sugar, KCB Rugby, Menengai Oilers, and Kenya Harlequins.

However, the franchise teams announced by KRU are set to contain players from other Kenya Cup teams and lower-tier teams.

Michael Kwambo, the KRU Communications Manager, said that the arrangement is still consistent with the tradition of the Rugby Super Series.

“Kabras Sugar, KCB Rugby, Menengai Oilers, and Kenya Harlequins are the headline teams. So nothing has changed since we have always had the lower tier teams included in the franchise teams,” Kwambo, who is also the Rugby Super Series Communications Director told The Eastleigh Voice.

Newly-crowned Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar will headline the Buffaloes franchise team which will be based in Kakamega. The Buffaloes, whose colours will be blue and white, will also comprise Catholic Monks, Kisumu RFC, Masinde Muliro, and Western Bulls. The Buffaloes will be aiming for a second Super Series title to add to the previous success in 2005.

Two-time Rugby Super Series winners Cheetahs will be based in Nakuru and will comprise Menengai Oilers, Homeboyz, Impala, Kabarak University, Nakuru RFC, and University of Eldoret. Cheetahs won the competition in 2004 and 2006 and will be wearing red and white kits.

Eight-time Kenya Cup champions KCB Rugby will have its players starring for the Lions who won the Rugby Super Series in 2006. The Lions will be based in Nairobi at the KCB Ruaraka Sports Club and will also include players from Blak Blad of Kenyatta University, Cougars of JKUAT, South Coast Pirates, and USIU Martials. Their uniform will be green and black.

Rhinos, who are the competition’s most successful team with six titles won in 2003, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2012, will also be based in Nairobi at the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road. The Rhinos, whose uniform will be yellow and black, will feature players from Kenya Harlequins, Daystar Falcons, Mean Machine, Mombasa, Nondescripts, and Strathmore Leos.

Kwambo also confirmed that the coaches for the four men’s franchise teams, including of those of the two women’s franchise teams, have been appointed and KRU will name them soon.

“Coaches for the franchise teams have already been appointed and their names will be made public soon,” Kwambo said.

The Rugby Super Series matches will take place on the four Saturdays in May (4th, 11th, 18th, and 25th).

Matches for the first and last weekend will be held in Nairobi at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka and the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road respectively.

he matches for the second weekend will be held at the Nakuru Athletic Club while Kakamega’s Bullring will host the action for the third weekend.

The matches for the men’s competition will see the four teams play each other once over the first three weekends.

The top two teams will then contest the final of the Rugby Super Series 2024 on the final weekend while the bottom two teams will contest a third/fourth play-off match.

The women’s matches will be played over two legs on the last two weekends of the competition with the team with the best record being declared the winner.

The fixtures for the Rugby Super Series 2024 are as follows:

Men’s competition

May 4, 2024 | Lions vs Rhinos (2pm); Buffaloes vs Cheetahs (4pm)
May 11, 2024 | Lions vs Cheetahs (2pm); Buffaloes vs Rhinos (4pm)
May 18, 2024 | Rhinos vs Cheetahs (2pm); Buffaloes vs Lions (4pm)
May 25, 2024 | Rank 3 vs Rank 4 (2pm); Rank 1 vs Rank 2 (4 pm)

Women’s competition

May 18, 2024 | Eagles vs Jaguars
May 25, 2024 | Jaguars vs Eagles

The Rugby Super Series was an annual rugby tournament which was held between 2003 and 2014. Between 2003 and 2007, the tournament comprised four teams (Buffaloes, Cheetahs, Lions, and Rhinos) before expanding to six teams with the addition one team from Kenya (Sharks) and another from Tanzania (Twigas) in 2008. From 2009 to 2014, the tournament was played by eight teams following the addition of two teams from Uganda (Rwenzori and Victoria). It returns this year after a 10-year hiatus.