Over the weekend, rugby lovers gathered at the Forty thieves beach, like the have done for the last five years around this time of year, for the Diani beach 5-a-side touch rugby tournament.
In it’s five years the tournament has managed to curve out a niche for itself as the best touch tournament in the country. Played on the beautiful white sand beaches of Diani against the back drop of the clear blue waters, the tourney is 3 days of fun and rugby.
Being that it is on the beach, the small issue of the tide comes into the picture thus the rugby is played either early in the morning or late in the evening.
This year’s edition attracted a total of 28 sides, with teams from France, UK and Tanzania joining local sides from Nanyuki, Naivasha, Nairobi and the greater coastal region. Among the notable sides were 3 from the Moi Equator Girls High school.
Friday night action saw the likes of Les Galouis, Karen Crusaders, Jangilles, Norfolk Inn Chance, the South coast pirates and Civicon register big wins and follow these up with similar showings on Saturday morning.
These six sides would be joined by another 10 in the Knock out phase on Sunday morning. From the 16, eight would proceed to the cup quarter final with the rest dropping to the plate competition.
Les Galoius, Civicon, Noforlk Inn Chance, Bollore Pumas who featured several faces from Mombasa RFC, Karen Crusaders I & II, Technical University of Mombasa and the South Coast pirates proceeded to the cup competition.
The Karen Crusaders I got past TUM, 4-1 to set up a semi final match up against Les Galoius who narrowly got over Civicon 2-1 in extra time. The other semi final would see Karen Crusaders II take on the South Coast pirates.
Les Galouis ended any hopes of an all Karen affair in the final, after beating Crusaders I, with the South coast pirates falling to Karen Crusaders II.
Meanwhile in the other competitions, Mafikizolo, one of the girls’ teams from Nanyuki picked up the shield title. Les Galouis II walked away with the Bowl title with the Jangilles, who mainly featured players from the Kilimanjaro warriors, picking up the Plate.
Les Galouis beat Crusaders II 2-1 in the final, to be crowned 2014 champions just before the ‘pitches’ were eaten up by the Indian ocean waters.
The proceeds from the tournament will go to the Rugby Patrons Association, who fund age grade rugby in the country. And the newly formed South Coast Pirates Rugby club.
A super three days of fun, sand, water and touch rugby, the skill level on display was quite impressive. Hats off to the organisers for an impeccable job over the three days. With the rapid growth of the tournament and the increasing popularity of touch rugby, this could be the Safari sevens of touch rugby a few years down the line.
We hope to field a side in next year’s edition, that is 12 months of waiting and trying to come up with a catchy, witty name…among other things.
KWISHA…Nimeruka Nje!!!
