Defending champions KCB Rugby are set to begin their title defence at the Dala 7s, which will take place on Saturday, 1 to Sunday, 2 August at Mamboleo Stadium in Kisumu. The team has been placed in what is described as a favourable pool for the tournament.
KCB will compete in Pool A alongside MMUST RFC, Impala RFC, and the recently promoted Zetech Oaks. The Kenya Cup giants arrive in Kisumu with confidence, having secured a victory in the opening leg of the circuit, the Prinsloo 7s. They currently lead the Division One standings with 22 points.
Their closest competitors, Kabras Sugar RFC, are in second place with 19 points after finishing as runners-up in Nakuru. Nondescripts RFC holds third position with 17 points, while Kenya Harlequin and Daystar Falcons are tied for fourth and fifth with 15 points each.
Tournament Pools and Standings
The tournament features several competitive pools. Pool B includes Kenya Harlequin, Blak Blad, Menengai Oilers, and MSC Rugby. Pool C consists of Nondescripts RFC, Daystar Falcons, Mwamba RFC, and the host team, Kisumu RFC.
Pool D is anticipated to host some of the most intense matches, with Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar drawn against Nakuru RFC, Strathmore Leos, and Embu RFC. KCB enters the tournament as a strong contender following their performance in the 2025 campaign.
In the previous season, KCB lifted the Dala 7s title, defeating Kabras Sugar with a score of 12-5 in a final match held at Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo. This victory concluded a strong circuit run where KCB reached all six tournament finals, won four legs, and accumulated 126 points.
This win also marked KCB‘s seventh Dala 7s crown and their fifth overall National Sevens Circuit title, with previous triumphs recorded in 2013, 2014, and 2019.
Beyond the top teams, Nakuru RFC is in sixth place with 12 points. Blak Blad and MMUST are level with 10 points each. Strathmore Leos are ninth with eight points, and Menengai Oilers complete the top 10 with seven points.
Mwamba RFC, Impala RFC, and Catholic Monks each have five points, placing them 11th, 12th, and 13th, respectively. NYS Spades are 14th with two points, while Kisumu RFC and Embu RFC each have one point.
Division Two Restructuring
The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has implemented changes to the Division Two format of the National Sevens Circuit to enhance its competitiveness. The number of Division Two teams has been reduced from 20 to 16, aligning its structure with Division One.
The revised format features four pools of four teams, replacing the previous five-pool system. After the pool stage, teams will advance to the Cup quarter-finals, semi-finals, and final, establishing a consistent structure across both divisions.
The 16-team lineup for Division Two will include the four teams relegated from Division One in the preceding leg, the top four Division Two finishers from the previous leg (excluding the promoted side), and nine additional teams. Priority for the remaining slots will be given to regional teams from the host region of each tournament, leading to variations in Division Two composition across circuit legs.
Promotion and relegation remain key elements of the circuit. The top-performing Division Two team at each leg will be promoted to Division One for the subsequent tournament, while the lowest-ranked Division One side will be relegated.
The pools for the Division Two competition at the 2026 Dala 7s have also been confirmed. Pool A includes CUEA Monks, Kisii RFC, Sigalagala Polytechnic, and JOOUST. Pool B features NYS Spades, Western Bulls, Kisii Polytechnic, and Busia Borderrucks.
In Pool C, Kabarak University, Stallions Rugby, Vihiga Granites, and Rongo RFC will compete. Pool D consists of Northern Suburbs, Eldopoly Community, Maseno University, and Mbale RFC. The top two teams from each Division Two pool will progress to the Cup quarter-finals.
Women’s Competition Adjustments
The women’s competition has also undergone restructuring. All eight teams will now compete in a single division, divided into two pools of four during the preliminary stage. Following the pool matches, all eight teams will advance to the quarter-finals.
The four quarter-final winners will qualify for the semi-finals, with the winners then competing for places in the final. The four losing quarter-finalists will participate in fifth-place semi-finals, with the victors meeting in a fifth-place playoff.
The two teams that lose the fifth-place semi-finals will be ranked seventh and eighth based on accumulated points. These changes aim to streamline the competition structure for both men’s and women’s divisions.
The Dala 7s tournament is scheduled for August 1st and 2nd.
Source: mozzartsport.co.ke
