A Weekend of Rugby, Learning, and Community Sport in Gilgil

This past weekend, our Nairobi-based DBA WaziWazi Academy hit the road for a memorable trip to the Ndume 7s at Pembroke House School in Gilgil. For many of the boys, it was their first time travelling and staying overnight as a team, an exciting experience filled with rugby, bonding, and plenty of learning and new experiences

Representing our grassroots organisation, the Under-13 boys' squad put in a strong showing throughout the tournament. They secured impressive wins against SHAMAS, Nondies, and Kyadondo Rugby Academy from Uganda, playing with confidence, teamwork, and flair. Despite determined efforts, they narrowly lost to both Gilgil Vumbi and Phoenix Academy. Each match brought new lessons, and the boys gained valuable experience both on and off the field.

We are incredibly proud of how our players carried themselves throughout the trip. Their growth in discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork was clear to see, proof that sports development goes far beyond the scoreboard. These values are at the core of what we aim to build through our weekly rugby and life skills sessions.

Congratulations to Gilgil Vumbi for claiming the U13 trophy for the second year running. We also give a special shout-out to Kenton College, our proud partners and the host venue for our Sunday academy sessions, who won their category in style after beating Peponi School in the U13 final.

We’re also grateful to Pembroke House School for once again hosting a top-class event. Their continued commitment to grassroots sport is helping shape the next generation of athletes in East Africa. Tournaments like the Ndume 7s provide young players with opportunities to grow, compete, and build lifelong values.

A big round of applause also goes to The Banda School, winners of the U11 boys' title, and Hillcrest International School, who were crowned U13 girls’ champions after an impressive win over Kenton College. These results reflect the rising standard of youth rugby in Kenya and Uganda.

The tournament also brought attention to an ongoing challenge of age cheating in youth sport. Concerns were once again raised around inconsistencies in age verification, which continue to affect the fairness of age-grade competitions. At DBA, we are committed to addressing this issue. We are currently working to establish a community sport committee that will coordinate age verification, organise fixtures across multiple age groups, and ensure birth certificates are submitted and verified. Fair play must remain at the heart of youth sport in Kenya.

Lastly, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Eagles Point Camp for their warm hospitality. Hosting both our squad and our friends from Kyadondo Rugby Academy in Uganda, they helped make the weekend truly special. It was a powerful reminder of what community sport is all about, bringing young people together, across borders, through the power of play.