KCB Rugby lifted the inaugural Lionhearted Cup after mauling their Ugandan counterparts, KCB KOBS, 38-8 in a one-sided international friendly played at the KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, on Saturday.
Dubbed the ‘Sibling Rivalry’, the match brought together the two KCB-sponsored rugby clubs in a celebration of the shared sporting heritage between KCB Bank Kenya and KCB Bank Uganda.
KCB Rugby dominated the opening stanza, flying to a 26-5 lead before adding another 12 points after the breather to seal the win and claim the Lionhearted Cup.
KCB opened the scoring through an early try before co-captain Brian Wahinya converted to put the hosts 7-0 ahead. Emmanuel Opondo then combined with Sheldon Kahi as KCB extended their advantage to 12-0, with Wahinya adding the conversion for a 14-0 lead. Isaac Njoroge added KCB’s next try, which Wahinya converted to make it 21-0. KCB continued to pile pressure and grabbed another unconverted try to move to 26-0 before KOBS responded with a try to reduce the deficit to 26-5 at the break.
The hosts maintained their momentum after the restart, with Michael Wekesa crossing the line to take KCB to 31-5. Eugene Omondi then scored another try, with the subsequent conversion taking KCB to 38 points.
KOBS added a late three points, but KCB held firm to secure the 38-8 victory and the Lionhearted Cup.
In a post-match interview, KCB Rugby head coach Andrew Amonde said: “It was a good outing for the boys and, importantly, an opportunity to play against a team that brought a different challenge. The result is encouraging, but we also saw areas that we need to improve as we continue preparing for the season. Beyond the result, this match is about the relationship between KCB Kenya and KCB Uganda and the role sport can play in bringing our teams and communities together.”
The match-day honours reflected individual contributions across the KCB Rugby squad, with Eugene Itazya named Rookie of the Match, while Richard Abigada was recognized as the Top Try Scorer. Wahinya emerged as the Top Points Scorer, while Kahi was named Man of the Match for his influential performance.
“We knew coming into this match that KCB Rugby would provide a strong test. We had moments where we showed what we can do, but we also made mistakes that KCB punished. These are the kinds of matches that help us grow as a team, and we take the lessons from today as we continue building for our upcoming competitions,” noted KCB KOBS Head Coach Brian Makalama.
The Lionhearted Cup clash followed an earlier university rugby derby at the same venue, where Kenyatta University's Blak Blad narrowly pipped the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine 6-5 in a closely contested encounter.
KCB Rugby will resume action at the Floodlit Tournament in Nairobi beginning October 17, 2026, where they will meet Menengai Oilers in one of the quarter-finals.
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