Curtains fall on Kenya Rugby’s longest tournament- Enterprise Cup this Saturday at the RFUEA Grounds pitting Kabras Sugar RFC against Resolution Impala Saracens.
The tournament was first played in 1930; it was suspended from 1940-1946 due to the second World War but resumed to action in 1947 with Eldoret defending their 1939 title. From then on, the tournament has produced several winners with Nondescripts RFC having the longest winning streak from 1975 to 1984. Mwamba RFC broke this streak when they lifted the trophy in 1985 and 1986. The Enterprise Cup tournament took a break in 1987 paving way for the All African Games.
Between 1988 and 1996 the trophy interchanged homes between the Kenya Harlequins Club and the Red Lion with both sides sharing the trophy in 1996. Since then, only this year’s finalists Resolution Impala Saracens have managed to secure the four year winning streak from 2000 to 2003: ironically, in 2003 Impala shared the trophy with their rivals and next door neighbours, Kenya Harlequins. Impala’s streak is followed by KCB’s 2015-2017 streak and lastly Kenya Harlequins back to back wins in 2010 and 2011. Every other year between 2004 and 2017, with an exception of the Impala, Quins and KCB wins, the enterprise Cup title was not successfully defended thus providing a different winner each year.
Last year, Menengai Cream Homeboyz lifted their maiden 15s title when they beat the Resolution Impala Saracens 21-3 at the RFUEA. Impala is back in an attempt to win the title they last lifted 14 years ago, they face a wounded Kabras RFC that lost to KCB in the Kenya Cup final on 18th May in Kakamega. Kabras have made it to one cup final, in 2017 where they lost 3-27 to KCB at the RFUEA Grounds.
Kabras and Impala reached the 2019 final after beating their semifinals opponents Kenya Harlequins and KCB 54-11 and 11-10 respectively on 4th May.
The match will be aired live on Bamba Sports.
Photo: Resolution Impala Saracens