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Youth Rugby: Nurturing Future Champions
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.
By Mary NJOROGE
The St. Mary’s School Saturday played host to the annual sports secondary school’s tournament dubbed, the Blackrock Rugby Festival, attracting both boys’ and girls’ High schools across the country.
The tournament, held in partnership with Study – abroad education experts, Educare International, began in 1983, and 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 featured 15 teams, including the record-winning Rift Valley Academy.
Gregory Sang – the tournament’s coordinator at St Mary’s School said, the festival held every year, 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.
Ten (10) boys’ secondary schools including the Nairobi School and Upper Hill boys’ school took 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.
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.