The third quarter of 2026 was one of DBA Africa's busiest yet. Between July and September we marked five years of DBA Academy, launched a new sevens programme, welcomed visitors from the UK and saw one of our own finish top of the scoring charts on the National Sevens Circuit. Here is a look back at the moments that shaped our quarter.

Five Years of DBA Academy

This quarter DBA Academy celebrated five years of creating opportunities for young athletes through grassroots sport, education and community development. What began as a commitment to give young people a place to play, learn and belong has grown into a network of academies across Nairobi, Nakuru and Western Kenya.

The spirit of that journey was on show at the U13 Kingsley Cup in Turi, where our Under-13 rugby academies from Nairobi and Nakuru came together for a day of competitions. Representatives from Kingsley School were in attendance to see the impact of their continued support first-hand.

In Western Kenya, our academy girls had a day to remember when Kenyan international Walter Okoth joined them for a training session. He then treated the young athletes to one of his signature home-cooked meals. It was a reminder that the best role models give their time as well as their talent.

Building the Pathway: Age-Grade Rugby and the DBA 7s

Our age-grade rugby programmes had a full quarter, preparing for and competing across the National Sevens Circuit at Prinsloo, Dala, Kabeberi and Driftwood, with the Christie Sevens next on the calendar.

We also launched the DBA 7s, our U18 sevens development programme, at Kenton College. Fifty-two players nominated from our Nairobi academies came together to compete for 30 places in the squad. The programme gives our most committed young players a clear next step and a high-performance environment to grow in.

No story shows the value of that pathway better than Rayvon Amunga's. After six months out injured, Rayvon returned to deliver an outstanding National Sevens Circuit campaign with Kabras. He finished as the overall top points scorer, earned two Dream Team selections, received four Fans' Player of the Tournament nominations and secured an overall runners-up medal. He also represented Kenya's U20 side, Chipu, in Uganda, where the team won the Barthés Cup. His comeback is a testament to his resilience and to everyone who supported him through his recovery.

Sport Beyond the Pitch: Tackle It and Youth Wellbeing

We believe sport is one of the most powerful tools for helping young people grow. This quarter, Tackle It reached a major milestone: our rugby-based education programme is now delivered in 15 schools across Kenya. Delivered in partnership with One2One Kenya and the Barbarians Rugby Charitable Trust, Tackle It equips young people with practical skills in violence prevention, mental wellbeing, respect and inclusion.

We also deepened our role in national conversations on youth wellbeing:

• YIDP Sports Wellness Summit: DBA Africa joined the resource mobilisation and scientific committees for the upcoming Sports Wellness Summit, helping to prepare for a national conversation on sport and youth wellbeing.
• ISSUP Pre-Breakfast Summit: In September we joined stakeholders to discuss substance-use prevention, youth wellbeing and the role of sport in building healthier communities.

Partnerships Across Borders

International exchange remained central to our work this quarter.

Kingsley School, Devon visited Kenya for a rugby, netball and community outreach tour. The visit strengthened a partnership built on shared values and cultural exchange, and our young people and the visiting students learnt a great deal from one another.

Two University of Nottingham sports students also joined us for a sporting and cultural exchange. They supported lacrosse coaching, academy activities and competitions across Kenya, bringing fresh energy and new skills to our programmes.

We were delighted to welcome John Davies, Head of Dauntsey's School in the UK, to DBA Academy. His visit opened discussions on a potential collaboration scheduled for March 2027, and we look forward to seeing where it leads.

Closer to home, we welcomed Adequate Safaris as our new travel and logistics partner. Their support strengthens the operational backbone of our programmes, so our players and partners can get where they need to be safely and efficiently.

Looking Ahead

As we move into the final quarter of 2026, we do so with real momentum: a growing player pathway, a life skills programme reaching more schools than ever, and partnerships that connect young Kenyans with the wider world. We are grateful to everyone who made this quarter possible, including our players, coaches, schools, partners, families and supporters.

Here's to finishing the year strong.

To find out more about our programmes or to get involved, get in touch with the DBA Africa team.