In a thrilling display of homegrown talent and fierce competition, rugby faithful were treated to a dramatic switch of fortunes between Menengai Oilers and Nakuru RFC during the second leg of the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit, the Prinsloo 7s, held at the Nakuru Athletics Club.

Coming into their home tournament off contrasting performances in the Driftwood 7s, the two Nakuru sides had their eyes on improving their standings.

In Mombasa, it was Nakuru RFC who made it to the semi-finals, where they faced Strathmore Leos and ultimately finished fourth. Menengai Oilers, meanwhile, missed out on a semi-final berth and settled for fifth place.

But under the roaring cheers of their home crowd, the script flipped in Nakuru.

Menengai Oilers player Denis Abukuse attempts to catch the ball after breaking KCB rugby player Samuel Asati defense during the Prinsloo 7s semi- finals match held at Nakuru Athletic Club.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Day Two of the tournament kicked off with fireworks as fans were treated to an electric Nakuru derby in the Main Cup quarter-finals.

With a semi-final slot at stake, Menengai Oilers faced off against Nakuru RFC (Wanyore) in a tense and physical encounter.

The Oilers emerged victorious, edging their home rivals 7–0 in a game dominated by tough tackling and tactical discipline. A single converted try made the difference, sending Wanyore out of the Main Cup and securing the Oilers' spot in the semis.

Menengai Oilers looked more composed and clinical at Prinsloo. They earned themselves a slot in the semi-finals and, this time, found themselves toe-to-toe with perennial giants KCB Rugby.

In what is fast becoming a familiar rivalry, the Oilers gave the bankers a run for their money but ultimately came up short, falling 17–10 in a tightly contested clash.

That narrow loss denied them a chance at the title challenge, but the Oilers still bagged a commendable fourth-place finish, collecting 15 points from the leg.

Nakuru RFC, on the other hand, weren’t as sharp this time around. Though they fought with grit and entertained the local crowd with their trademark flair, they couldn’t replicate their Driftwood magic in the Main Cup.

However, Wanyore’s play in the fifth-place ranking games was fierce and determined. In their fifth-place semi-final 2, Wanyore edged out rugby giants Kabras Sugar with a hard-fought 12–10 victory.

The momentum carried into the fifth-place final, where they faced a spirited Kenya Harlequins side. The clash was intense, ending 19–19 at full time and pushing the contest into sudden death.

Wanyore broke the deadlock with a decisive try, sealing a 24–19 win and clinching fifth place in dramatic fashion. The result earned them 13 points from the leg, a slight dip from Driftwood, but a commendable fight back on home soil.

As for the Prinsloo 7s champions, Strathmore Leos reclaimed the title after edging KCB Rugby 24–7 in a fast-paced final played under extremely heavy rains.

Strathmore Leos celebrate the Prinsloo 7s win on August 3,2025 at the Nakuru Athletics Club after beating KCB Rugby 24- 7 to retain the title.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

The club also had their star player, Victor Mola, walk away with Sh10,000 and the distinction of being the most decorated player at Prinsloo 7s , bagging three individual awards: Most Valuable Player, Top Try Scorer, and Top Points Scorer.

This marks the third Prinsloo 7s title for the Leos, who previously lifted the trophy in 2009 and 2024.

The performance sees a dramatic role reversal between the two Nakuru-based sides in just one week of play, highlighting the competitive spirit and depth of talent brewing in the Nakuru rugby powerhouse.

With both teams hungry for more, the national sevens circuit promises even more fireworks in the remaining legs.

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Purity Kinuthia