Girls’ 15s rugby to make historic debut at Term One ball games in Kisumu

Diana Wanjiku of Kinale Girls outpaces an opponent during a past tournament /HANDOUT

Rugby 15s for girls’ schools will make its debut at the Term One ball games, slated for Kisumu from April 5 to 11, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) development officer Ronald Okoth has confirmed.

Okoth described the move as historic and a positive step for the growth of girls’ rugby in the country. “It’s a good move. For the first time, we have girls’ rugby being played alongside the boys — a step in the right direction,” he said.

The introduction of the 15s format provides a clear pathway for schoolgirls aspiring to play for the Kenya Lionesses, not just in sevens but also in 15s rugby, where the country has the potential to qualify for the Rugby World Cup in 2029 in Australia.

“Most of the girls end up playing sevens rugby from school. At the 15s level, we struggle because we don’t have players in key positions like prop and second row. We need a pathway from the school level, and with that in place, I can see us performing very well internationally in the next few years,” Okoth noted.

The move has been long overdue, Okoth added, pointing out that KRU trialled 15s rugby with girls’ schools in Western, Nyanza, Central, and even the Coast region through the Prescott Cup in 2023.

“The Union was ready three years ago. We proposed the programme to the Ministry in collaboration with the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA), and we are delighted that now the sport will be played at the national level in April,” he said.

Among the top schools expected to participate in the championship are national sevens champions Kinale, St Theresa, Eregi, Madira, Igoji, Mbagathi, and Nova Pioneer, among others. Okoth urged schools across the country to embrace the sport.

“My plea is for schools to enter teams from the zonal to the regional level. This is an opportunity for our girls to showcase their talent,” he said. He also highlighted the need for a national talent pathway.

“As a union, we need to build a depth chart to identify talent and put players on a pathway to represent the Kenya Lionesses in the future, enhancing our chances to compete at the highest level,” Okoth added.

Girls’ rugby has already grown significantly since the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association introduced a sevens championship for girls in 2024, laying the foundation for the expansion into 15s.