Kabras Sugar RFC underlined their dominance in Kenya’s sevens rugby by storming to the 2026 Dala Sevens title after defeating Menengai Oilers 17-5 in a one-sided final at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Kisumu.
The sugar millers produced a disciplined and clinical display, overpowering the Oilers from start to finish to successfully retain the coveted title and add another trophy to their rapidly expanding silverware collection.
The victory further cements Kabras Sugar’s status as one of the country’s leading rugby sevens powerhouses as they continue their impressive run on the National Sevens Circuit.
Speaking after the triumph, Kabras Sugar head coach Carlos Katywa said lifting the Dala Sevens trophy had been one of the team’s key objectives after narrowly missing out on the Prinsloo Sevens title.
The jubilant tactician said the squad arrived in Kisumu determined to ensure the trophy remained outside Nairobi, noting that the title had been dominated by Nairobi-based teams for several years.
“I am really over the moon and very happy because it has been a while since we won this trophy. Winning Dala Sevens was one of our plans. After missing out on Prinsloo, we knew we had to come here and win because this trophy has been going to Nairobi for a long time,” said Katywa.
Despite the victory, the coach challenged his players to improve their mentality, saying they have developed a habit of starting matches slowly before recovering.
Katywa observed that the same trend is common across several Kenyan rugby teams, including the national sevens side, Shujaa, and age-grade teams, urging players to adopt a stronger winning mentality from the opening whistle.
He revealed that even the club’s director, Nick Baraza, has repeatedly questioned why the team often struggles in the early stages of matches despite possessing immense quality.
Katywa praised Kabras Sugar Company for its unwavering support and lauded his players for showing resilience throughout the tournament.
Kenya Rugby Union Chairperson Harriet Okatch congratulated Kabras Sugar on the impressive victory, saying the champions earned the title through hard work and consistency.
Okatch admitted that many had not expected Kabras to emerge victorious but said the team’s outstanding performances throughout the tournament proved they deserved the championship.
She also praised hosts Kisumu RFC for successfully staging another memorable edition of Dala Sevens, noting that the huge turnout at the stadium demonstrated the tournament’s growing popularity despite the club being community-based.
“Kisumu is home. Kisumu Rugby Football Club is where my rugby journey began. We witnessed fantastic rugby throughout the weekend, and I am delighted that different teams came to compete. We never imagined Kabras would emerge champions, but they deserved it. The final against Menengai Oilers was beautiful to watch,” said Okatch.
She added that the thousands of fans who packed the stadium reaffirmed Dala Sevens’ place as one of Kenya’s biggest rugby events.
For winning the tournament, Kabras Sugar walked away with KSh150,000 in prize money.
Attention now shifts to the fourth leg of the National Sevens Circuit, the Kabeberi Sevens, scheduled for August 15-16 at the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road in Nairobi.
The Division One pools have already been confirmed:
- Pool A: Quins, Daystar, Kisumu RFC, Impala
- Pool B: Mwamba, Strathmore Leos, Nondescripts, Monks
- Pool C: Menengai Oilers, Zetech Oaks, Blak Blad, Mombasa RFC
- Pool D: Kabras Sugar, KCB Rugby, MMUST, Nakuru RFC
The 2026 Kenya National Sevens Circuit is sponsored by SportPesa, which has committed KSh34.14 million towards this year’s competition.
