The Prescott Cup national tournament is set to take place from October 12-14 at the RFUEA and Impala grounds, featuring eight school teams from various regions in Kenya.
According to Ronald Okoth, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) development officer, the tournament will span three days, with matches played at the RFUEA ground on the first two days and the final held at the Impala ground.
Participating schools hail from Western, Nyanza, Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, and Nairobi regions. Initially planned for Nyanza, logistical challenges and venue availability led to the decision to hold the event in Nairobi for the second consecutive year.
Representing Nyanza will be champions Kisii High and runners-up St. Mary’s Yala, with Kisii High defeating St. Mary’s Yala 7-5 in the Nyanza qualifier final.
East Africa Sevens champions Koyonzo will represent Western, having won the final against Vihiga with a score of 5-0.
Nairobi and Central regions will conduct their qualifiers on Saturday. In the Central qualifiers, Mangu, Alliance, and Kiambu will meet at Mpesa Academy in Thika, while Ofafa Jericho, Upperhill, Lenana, and Dagoretti will compete at the Catholic University ground. One team from each region will qualify for the national tournament.
The Prescott Cup national tournament primarily serves as a development event for rugby players under the age of 18. Okoth noted that due to the ongoing examination term, the event will predominantly feature Form one, two, and three students.
Additionally, the KRU aims to revive the Kenya Schools Combined team in collaboration with the Kenya Schools Secondary Sports Association (KSSSA) to tap into the country’s abundant talent pool.
