Kenya, who became African champions by virtue of winning this competition on home soil when they beat Tunisia 16-7 in the final on Saturday 12 November 2011, come into this tie having recently relinquished their five year stranglehold on the Elgon Cup to Uganda, and this meeting in Tunis gives Michael Otieno’s charges the perfect opportunity to exact revenge on their neighbours and move closer towards retaining the title by virtue of booking a berth in Saturday’s final.

A win will be important for Kenya as it will not only boost their title defence hopes but will also see them stay in Division 1A which will next year serve as the African qualifier for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Kenya will choose their squad from:

Joel Nganga (Rhinos/Capitain), Moses Amusala (Lions), Dennis Karani (Rhinos), Curtis Lilako (Lions), Sammy Warui , Duncan Mwangi,Wilson Kopondo(Rhinos), Ronnie Mwenesi (Cheetahs), Tony Mutai (Rhinos), Duncan Ekasi (Cheetahs), Oscar Ouma (Nakuru), Charles Omondi (Sharks), Lawi Buyachi (Cheetahs), Edwin Machanje (Lions), Moses Kola (Cheetahs), Edwin Achayo , Eden Agero (Rhinos), Isaac Adimo (Sharks), Nick Barasa(Rhinos), Patrice Agunda (Quins), David Ambunya (University of Cape Town), Vincent Mose (Cheetahs), Tony Onyango (Sharks), Dennis Muhanji (Rhinos)

This match will be preceded by the first semi final pitting hosts Tunisia and Zimbabwe at 1600GMT (1900hrs local time).

Confederation of African Rugby ,Division 1 A, Tunis, Tunisia
Semi Final Schedule,Tuesday 10 July 2012

Tunisia v Zimbabwe, 1600 GMT
Kenya v Uganda 1800 GMT

Final Schedule,Saturday 14 July 2012

Third place playoff
Loser (semi final 1) v Loser (semi final 2), 1600 GMT

*loser of this match relegated to Division 1B

Africa Cup Final
Winner (semi final 1) v Winner (semi final 2), 1800 GMT

Lunch Bar Quins v KCB
Saturday 23 June 2012, RFUEA Grounds
Center Referee:Colin Stanley
Assistant Referees: Andrew Karani,Mwangi Karimi

Quins are ten time Enterprise Cup champions and come into this tie looking to complete the season’s double, having claimed the Kenya Cup league title earlier this season. Earning a bye to the quarter final, Quins booked their semi final berth with a 39-13 home win over Kisumu RFC last weekend and will brace themselves for a sterner test from KCB.

KCB took a longer route to the semis, emerging victorious against sides perceived to be their bogey teams. The 2004 and 2007 Enterprise Cup champions began this season’s campaign with a 25-3 pre-quarter final win at home over Mwamba RFC on Saturday 9 June 2012 before overcoming the Strathmore Leos 14-3 at the latters home ground. Blending youth and experience, the Lions will fancy their chances when they meet a Quins side with whom they have shared some epic battles.

As mentioned earlier, this match should be potentially explosive owing to the fact that there will be some mini battles. Incumbent Quins and Kenya front rows Joel Ng’ang’a and Dennis Karani will be up against their national team counterparts Curtis Lilako and Moses Amusala.

The second row battle between Kenya international Wilson Kopondo and KCB youngster Oliver Mang’eni who recently earned a call up to Kenya’s provisional suqad for the Confederation of African Rugby tournament will worth watching while the backrow duel between former sevens internationals Brian Nyikuli (Quins) and Dennis Mwanja (KCB) will definitely be intriguing.

The midfield duels pitting Kenyan internationals Nick Barasa and Patrice Agunda (Quins) against Fabian Olando and Brian Omondi (KCB) will also be key in determining the outcome of this match.

This match kicks off at 4.30pm

Impala RFC v Nondescript RUFC
Saturday 23 June 2012, Impala Club
Center Referee: J.Muamba
Assistant Referees A.Ndong,Ian Muriuki

Two sides who had a Kenya Cup league season to forget face off in the second Enterprise Cup semi final. Impala RFC, losing finalists on the last two occassions host a Nondescript RUFC who like their hosts, are out to end the season on a high.

Ten time winners Impala qualified for the semis with a 23-6 win over Homeboyz last weekend while twenty five time winners Nondies booked their semi final berth with a 37-17 win over the Western Bulls.

There is all to play for, the long standing rivalry will also be a contributing factor. With both sides rebuilding, it will be interesting to see how this match turns up

Kick off, 4.30pm

Semi final action also continues in the Mwamba Cup, former champions KCB Cubs playing host to USIU at the Lions Den in Ruaraka while Impala Boks are at home to 2003 Mwamba Cup champions Mombasa at the Impala Club. Action in the Mwamba Cup kicks off at 3pm.

Group Stage Matches
Match Day One Saturday 5 May 2012

Defending champions UAP Rhinos began their title defense with a comprehensive 46-9 Pool B win over Uganda’s KCB Victoria at the RFUEA Grounds while the SDV Transami Cheetahs edged out Nguvu Sharks 11-7 in a tight Pool A fixture, both matches were played at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds.
Dimension Data Rwenzori survived a scare from the Mumias Sugar Buffaloes, holding out for the 43-31 Pool B win in Kampala while the Lions stopped the Coastal Bulls 45-6 in Mombasa.

Match Day Two Saturday 12 May 2012

This was definitely to be a pivotal point in the tournament, teams would know their fate and with the heavy rains pounding Nairobi forcing a change of venue to the Jamhuri Park, the Lions registered a second Pool A win, beating the Sharks 15-8 while the Cheetahs were 50-10 winners over the Bulls in the other Pool A fixture.

Over in Kampala, Rwenzori succeeded where others had failed, ending the Rhinos 16 match unbeaten run in the tournament stretching back to 2008, beating the defending champions 17-15 while Victoria beat the Buffaloes 17-7 in Mumias to leave Pool B wide open.

Match Day Three Saturday 19 May 2012
The battle of the cats in Pool A was really all about who tops the group and earns a favorable semi final draw. The Lions beat the Cheetahs 24-15 to finish top and stay in Nairobi during the semis while the Cheetahs would be travelling to Kampala. The other Pool A match ended 43-17 to Sharks against the Bulls.

Pool B had its fair share of drama, the Rhinos staring elimination in the face if they fell to the Buffaloes in Nakuru. The champions raced into a 10-0 lead but found themselves trailing 10-18 before rallying to defeat the stubborn Buffaloes 25-18 and book a semi berth against the Lions.
Rwenzori beat counterparts Victoria 19-10 to top the pool, setting up a semi final clash against the Cheetahs.

Match Day Four, Semi Finals ,Saturday 26 May 2012
Defending champions Rhinos went 15-5 up against the Lions, but allowed the 2008 champions back into the game, and they trailed 15-19 with minutes to play before Wilson Kopondo try sealed the win for the Rhinos, who made it to their sixth straight final since 2007.
Rwenzori made history by beating the Cheetahs 25-0 and becoming the first Ugandan side to reach the final.

Match Day Five , Grand Finale, Saturday 2 June 2012
Third place playoff
The third place playoff match saw the SDV Transami Cheetahs rally from 12-18 to register a 22-18 win over the Lions. The Lions went ahead through an unconverted Curtis Lilako try before Tony Nyandigisi leveled for the Cheetahs. Ian Indimuli and Fabian Olando added a try and penalty each before Ronnie Mwenesi scored against his former side, Moses Kola converting to take the scores to 13-12 at half time. Peter Mutai would stretch the Lions lead with a second half try before Mwenesi and Vincent Mose’s tries sealed the win for the Cheetahs.

Championship Match

The UAP Rhinos eventually re-wrote the history books, beating Dimension Data Rwenzori 25-14 to lift their sixth overall Bamburi Rugby Super Series title in an entertaining final played before a capacity crowd at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds on Saturday 2 June 2012.

BRSS 2012 Statistics
Bamburi Rugby Super Series
Saturday 2 June 2012
Match Day Five Collated Results and related statistics
Final: UAP Rhinos 25 Dimension Data Rwenzori 14

3rd Place Playoff: SDV Transami Cheetahs 22 Lions 14

Man of the Series: Wilson Kopondo (UAP Rhinos)

Top Points Scorer: Fabian Olando (Lions) 46 points

Top Try Scorer: Wilson Kopondo (UAP Rhinos) 5 tries

Previous BRSS Final Results
2003: Rhinos 27 Cheetahs 11
2004: Cheetahs 32 Lions 22
2005: Buffaloes 27 Lions 26
2006: Cheetahs 29 Lions 27
2007: Rhinos 28 Lions 20
2008: Lions 33 Rhinos 9
2009: Rhinos 30 Buffaloes 13
2010: Rhinos 25 Cheetahs 5
2011: Rhinos 20 Cheetahs 15
2012: Rhinos 25 Rwenzori 14

Lastly, we sign off by paying tribute to former Lions utility back Silas Amunga, “F Baby” or “Janeko” to all those who knew him. He was a member of the Lions squad that won the 2008 Bamburi Rugby Super Series title with a 33-9 win over the Rhinos. He passed away on Sunday 17 June 2012 after a short illness aged 29.

Rest in peace Janeko

Billy Johnson touched down for the third straight game and former Bedford srum-half Stefan Liebenberg started as England Counties triumphed 34-14 against the Elgon Warriors in Nairobi this weekend.

Rory Teague clocked up 19 points as England Counties made it three from three with a four-try win.

Teague, second cousin of England and Lions legend ‘Iron Mike’, kicked 15 points and crossed for the Counties second try to wrap up a tour which will go down in East African rugby history.

After their 39-5 defeat in Kampala last week the Warriors showed vast improvement particularly in the set-piece and demonstrated the potential of East African rugby.

Head Coach Jan Bonney said: “Credit must go to the Elgon Warriors, they put us under pressure and were good over the ball.

“We scored some nice tries to earn a good lead but we also made mistakes and missed opportunities.

“We’re delighted with the win and it was a real squad effort. Those who came on made an impact and that is credit to them.

“The whole trip has been about all 26 players and they’ve represented England Counties really well both on and off the pitch in terms of enthusiasm and work rate.

“The outreach work we have done has been incredibly humbling and the fact that the team has bonded so well together has made the tour a fantastic experience on every level. It has certainly created lifelong memories for everyone involved.

“There are some outstanding players in this group, some real talent coming through and this tour has provided them with the opportunity to face new playing challenges and experiences.”

Playing at the RFUEA in Nairobi where the British and Irish Lions beat the Tuskers in 1955 and 1962, the tour has been considered of equal importance to rugby in the host countries of Kenya and Uganda and has revived the heritage of a combined East African side.

England started the second leg well but individual errors and a lack of phase play provided turnover ball and the opportunity for the Elgon Warriors to score penalties and make counter-attacking breaks.

Once in the 22 with the ball in hand England looked dangerous and their first points came after two minutes when the ball was moved out wide for Steve Hamilton to dive low in the corner and Teague added the extras.

Minutes later Eden Agero scored one of three first half penalties and the Warriors began to put England under pressure, disrupting their play.

Teague extended England’s lead to 10-3 before the fly-half added a further seven with a converted try.

A maul just inside the 22, led by Hamilton, left the Warriors short in defence and quick ball by Stefan Liebenberg allowed Teague to step inside and cross the line.

England’s errors and ill-discipline gifted the Warriors six points after powerful attacking runs had put the home side in range of the posts.

Teague replied on the half time whistle with a penalty in another faultless kicking performance to take the Counties into a 20-9 lead.

England spent the first 10 minutes of the second half camped by the Warriors’ try line but failed to take anything from it.

After 60 minutes, Ben Pons, awarded man of the match by his team, made one of many strong runs after taking the ball from the back of a lineout.

Impact substitute Jared Saunders showed good footwork to gain further ground before the ball was spun out through Teague to Briers, who crossed under the posts.

Patrice Agunda scored the Warriors only try of the match before young winger Jim Wigglesworth displayed his potential in creating England’s fourth try.

Cutting a great line and side-stepping at pace he skipped through the Warriors’ defence. From the resultant breakdown just short of the try line, a pick-and-go from Johnson allowed the blindside flanker to set the record of having touched down in every match.

England continued to attack for the final 10 minutes and Teague’s conversion was England’s final score of the tour.

East Africa v British Lions
Wednesday 28 September 1955

East Africa v Springboks
25 February 1961

In 1960-61, the Springboks undertook a four month tour of the United Kingdom and France, winning all their 43 matches except for a 0-0 draw against France and a 6-0 defeat by the Barbarians at Cardiff in what is often inaccurately listed as the final match of that tour. They left London on Wednesday February 22 by air, landing in Nairobi for a four day stopover in Kenya on their way back to Johannesburg and, on Saturday 25 February 1961, they played East Africa. This was the first and only meeting between these teams, quite possibly the first match between South Africa and another African “nation”, but unequivocally the true last match of the tour.

Result
East Africa 0 South Africa 39
Ngong Road Ground, Nairobi, Kenya
Referee: Mr W S Thomas (KRRS)

East Africa v British Lions
Tuesday 28 August 1962

Almost exactly seven years after hosing the 1955 Lions, East Africa faced the Lions again on the same ground, this time as they were returning from their 1962 tour to South Africa.