St. Mary’s to host Blackrock Festival this weekend as Girls’ category returns

By Omar OTIENO

The St. Mary’s Blackrock Rugby Festival returns on Saturday 24 May, 2025 at the St. Mary’s School in Nairobi, with the highly anticipated annual event expected to attract both boys’ and girls’ secondary schools.

The tournament, which began in 1983, has been a significant fixture in Kenyan rugby, with only 2020 and 2021 being exceptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year’s tournament features 15 confirmed teams, including the record-winning Rift Valley Academy.

Speaking ahead of the competition, Gregory Sang – the tournament’s coordinator at St Mary’s School confirmed that 10 boys’ secondary schools including the Nairobi School and Upper Hill boys’ school will take part in the competition, with 4 girls’ secondary schools including the Rift Valley Academy and St Claire’s Girls high school in Embu also taking part.

The girls’ tournament returns for the first time in as many years after its organizers had previously halted it.

“It’s all systems go and we have seen an increased number in the schools taking part in the tournament. The girls’ category also returns this year, about four girls’ schools have confirmed taking part in this year’s competition and we are happy with that,” said Sang.

The festival aims to identify, nurture, and provide a platform for Kenyan rugby talent to shine. The festival also serves as a crucial stepping stone for teams, as evidenced by the growth of All Saints School from Embu after their victory in the festival.

It’s a key event in Kenya where future rugby stars are discovered and given the opportunity to showcase their skills and it is played in a round-robin format, normally with 24 teams divided into 8 groups of 3 teams each.

The top team of each group qualifies for the quarter-finals of the Main Cup, while the second and third-placed team of each group qualify for the quarter-finals of the Plate and Bowl Cup respectively.

Recently, a girls’ tournament was introduced to run alongside the main boys’ tournament. In the girls’ tournament, there are 12 teams that compete for the cup.

In 2022, the competition was played in a seven-a-side format instead of the regular fifteen-a-side format while in 2023 and 2024, the competition was played in a ten-a-side format. In 2025 and in future, the event’s organizers are reverting back to the traditional 15s rugby.

Teams in each group advance to the Main Cup, Plate and Bowl Cup.