Mombasa Bulldogs, Kilifi Titans crowned Seacrest U-15 Rugby Festival champions

The Mombasa based outfit was a class above all other girls’ teams at the tournament and topped their group with a one hundred percent win record.

Kilifi Titans were the winners in the boys’ category with three wins out of three in their pool.

The tournament hosted by the Costal Tsunami Rugby Academy in partnership with the South Coast Pirates Rugby Academy saw eight teams (four girls and four boys) in attendance, with the aim of creating a vibrant age-grade rugby competition, providing match exposure to both boys and girls, and promoting grassroots rugby in Kwale, Mombasa and Kilifi Counties.

The entire tournament was a testament to the growth of rugby development programs in the coastal region spearheaded by outfits like Coastal Tsunami Academy, South Coast Pirates Academy, Mombasa Bulldogs and Kilifi Titans.

It was clear to see the work being put in by development coaches with the players exhibiting a good grasp of basic rugby skills, and having the freedom to express themselves on the pitch.

Mombasa Bulldogs’ Peninah Dama was the girls’ M.V.P. while Robert Murimi of the Kilifi Titans was the boy’s M.V.P.

Both players showed exceptional skill, discipline, and leadership throughout the tournament. Peninah was a particular standout on the day, demonstrating a level of maturity and composure way beyond her age.

Speaking to Citizen Digital, Mwinyihaji Mohammed who is the development officer at South Coast Pirates R.F.C. and a coach with DBA Africa expressed his excitement at the success of the tournament.

“With this being the school holiday season, we are trying to engage upcoming rugby players and provide them with an opportunity to showcase and develop their talent. This tournament is also focused on promoting girls’ involvement in rugby especially at the Coast”, Mwinyihaji explained.

The tournament also highlighted the need to promote player safety and create a conducive environment for upcoming athletes by creating awareness, promoting a culture of player safety and putting strategies in place to prevent injuries.

Speaking on behalf of Kwale Sports Excellence Community Based Organization, Diana Heri who is the organization’s co-founder reiterated the need to protect upcoming players from serious injuries.

“We have been running a campaign dubbed the Safety-First Sports Safety Campaign for the last two years. We are very keen on putting measures in place to ensure that our upcoming athletes have the proper safety equipment to protect them from injuries.

In this regard, we are very grateful to the Kenya Red Cross Kwale County branch who have provided us with first-aid services and medical supplies for this tournament.”

Going forward the tournament’s organizers will be focused on technical skill development, conditioning, tactical awareness, injury recovery and support, and community engagement.