A Day of Growth, Courage and Sisterhood

The DBA Africa Western U15 Girls Holiday Festival highlighted the impact of intentional youth development. Hosted at the Kabras Rugby grounds, ACK Showgrounds, this was an amazing opportunity for the girls within our programme to test their learnings with local competition.

Held on 19th April 2026, the girls-only tournament brought together four teams, DBA Western Wanderers, Lugulu (Webuye), Vihiga, and Winam (Kisumu). The day focused on match exposure, learning, and player development, all key areas you can not achieve in class. It created a valuable platform for young female athletes, particularly those who missed out on the recent Junior Secondary School (JSS) competitions, to gain meaningful game time and experience competitive rugby. The JSS competitions are held annually therefore this festival gives the girls yet another chance to compete.

The matches followed a round-robin format, with a strong emphasis on development, confidence-building, and applying skills in a competitive environment.

Final Standings (Round Robin)

1. Lugulu (Unbeaten)
2. Winam
3. DBA Western Wanderers
4. Vihiga

Moments That Stood Out

From the first kickoff, the festival showcased expressive and competitive rugby.

Lugulu set the pace with a structured and efficient style of play, finishing the tournament unbeaten. Their attacking organisation and consistency stood out throughout the day. In addition the team was a school therefore had a lot more contact time with the management team as well as chemistry.

Winam brought strong physicality, with confident ball carriers who consistently challenged defensive lines.

DBA Western Wanderers showed resilience and steady improvement, securing a 15–10 win against Vihiga while facing strong opposition in Lugulu and Winam. Their defensive organisation and commitment reflected ongoing technical development.

Vivian of DBA Western Wanderers delivered an outstanding defensive performance, executing consistent tackles and showing strong game awareness. Team captain Patience demonstrated leadership by motivating her teammates and maintaining high energy throughout the matches. These are all the key life skills we emphasise in our academies.

Vihiga displayed solid fundamentals and discipline, with clear potential for growth as team cohesion continues to develop.

Across the touchline, coaches maintained a clear focus on learning and youth development. Communication was consistent, constructive, and encouraging. Mistakes were addressed as part of the learning process, while effort and progress were recognised throughout the day.

Purpose and Impact

The festival achieved its key development objectives:

• Provided match opportunities for players who missed JSS participation
• Exposed DBA academy athletes to competitive match environments
• Strengthened confidence, game awareness, and team cohesion

Life skills integration through programmes such as TackleIT reinforced key values including resilience, communication, confidence, and teamwork.

Why Festivals Like This Matter

As the JSS rugby season concludes, playing opportunities for girls become limited. Girls-only festivals ensure continued access to the game and consistent player development.

They support athlete progression, strengthen coaching pathways, and create structured environments for skill application and growth.

Despite minor logistical delays at the start of the day, the festival ran smoothly and maintained a positive and competitive atmosphere throughout.

Looking Ahead

The DBA Western U15 Girls Holiday Festival demonstrated the depth of talent across the Western region. Continued investment in structured competitions and development platforms will strengthen player pathways and support long-term growth in girls’ rugby.

DBA Africa remains committed to creating opportunities that support both athletic and personal development for the next generation.