KCB investment strengthens rugby ecosystem beyond the National 7s Circuit

• Around the grounds, fans added their own soundtrack, turning up in numbers to cheer their clubs, singing, celebrating, and enduring the heartbreak that comes with seven-a-side rugby.

Emmanuel Opondo races with the ball as Brian Tanga chases him down during the Christie 7s third-place match between KCB Rugby and Kabras Sugar on September 13, 2026, at the RFUEA Grounds.The successful staging of the 2026 National 7s Circuit wrapped up another exciting season on the rugby calendar, as players, fans, and sponsors enjoyed memorable moments across the country.

Bone-rattling tackles, bursts of speed, last-minute tries, and games that swung from one end of the pitch to the other in seconds filled the air. Around the grounds, fans added their own soundtrack, turning up in numbers to cheer their clubs, singing, celebrating, and enduring the heartbreak that comes with seven-a-side rugby. What many of us do not know is that behind every tournament, there was a host club working to prepare the venue, accommodate teams and officials, coordinate logistics and create an environment where the rugby could take centre stage.

It is this often-unseen side of the game that KCB has sought to strengthen through its investment in the circuit over the years. During the 2026 season, KCB pumped over Kshs. 2.5 million directly in supporting host clubs, alongside Kshs. 3 million in on-ground activations.

The approach put resources into the clubs that form the backbone of the circuit while supporting their wider rugby programmes. According to the KCB Group Director Marketing and Communication, Rosalind Gichuru, the support to the National 7s Circuit is not only about putting the KCB name behind the tournament but about ensuring that the structures that make the game possible continue to support the growth of sport from the grassroots level. As part of the bank’s pipeline initiatives, the bank donated rugby kits and supported tree-planting activities to All Saints, Embu High School and Otieno Oyoo Secondary School respectively, linking the energy of the sport with young people and spreading the word on environmental conservation efforts. For host clubs, the support has practical value. Kenya Harlequin Chairman Victor Sudi, whose club hosted the Christie 7s, said staging a National 7s tournament requires significant planning and resources.

“Hosting a National 7s Circuit tournament is a major undertaking for any club. Support that goes directly to the host club enables us to meet some of these requirements and focus on delivering a tournament that meets the standards expected of the circuit,” he said. On the pitch, KCB Rugby provided its own highlight, successfully defending the National 7s Circuit title with 115 points. KCB, under the tutelage of former Shujaa Captain Andrew Amonde, won the Prinsloo 7s, Kabeberi 7s and Embu 7s, finishing the 7s series above everyone else. As the dust settles on the circuit, the rugby caravan heads towards another major date on the calendar with the 28th edition of the Safari Sevens scheduled for October 9–11, 2026, Nairobi with KCB RFC once again emerging as the biggest contributor of players to the Shujaa setup. The squad features nine KCB Rugby stars, including Samuel Asati, Richel Wangila, David Nyangige, Elvis Olukusi, George Ooro, Vincent Onyala, Floyd Wabwire, Festus Shiasi and Nygel Amaitsa, underlining the depth of talent within the club and its continued contribution to the national team.