Christie 7s 2025 delivered a weekend of crackling rugby and raw emotion at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, and when the dust finally settled, KCB Rugby stood tallest after a clinical 17-5 win over Menengai Oilers. It was triumph built on precision and big game temperament, the kind of steely performance that turns contenders into serial winners and confirms the Bankers as the pace-setters of this National Sevens Circuit season.
There was a sense of inevitability and yet, on a field that churned out upsets and late twists, nothing came easy. KCB arrived as Driftwood 7s champions, watched Strathmore Leos seize the Prinsloo 7s, then summoned their best when it counted most in Nairobi. The final crowned a weekend where reputations were tested, where Kabras Sugar learned how quickly momentum can swing, and where home crowd energy helped Kenya Harlequin punch above their recent finishes.
How the final was won
KCB’s plan was clear from the opening whistle, pressure the breakdown, attack space early, and let their finishers do the rest. Floyd Wabwire cut through for the opener, a reminder that speed still decides sevens matches even when nerves are tight. Then came the moment that underlined KCB’s hunger, Festus Shiasi pounced on a loose ruck ball to make it 12-0 at halftime, a strike that took the sting out of Oilers’ rhythm and put the game in the Bankers’ control.
After the interval, Wabwire returned with a solo spark, a kick and chase that stretched the tally to 17-0 and sent a wave of belief through the KCB bench. Oilers found a late reply through Samuel Ovwamu, a consolation that spoke to their resilience, but the damage had been done. In the biggest moments, KCB were precise, direct, and ruthless, the exact blend that separates champions from nearly men.
KCB Rugby are the 2025 Christie 7s champions after outmuscling Menengai Oilers 17-5 in a pulsating final played on Sunday at the RFUEA Grounds.
This was KCB’s eighth Christie 7s crown and their second trophy of the campaign, achievements that reflect continuity, depth, and coaching clarity. It was also their third straight final this season, a streak that has become its own source of pressure and pride, and one they handled with the calm of a side that has stared down these occasions before.
Semifinal drama lifts the curtain
The path to the showpiece began with a heavyweight clash, KCB versus hosts Kenya Harlequin, a contest that simmered from the first carry. A burst from Vincent Onyala set up Michael Wanjala Asati for the opener, converted by Brian Wahinya, and it set the tone for a tight, physical semi. Quins responded through Leon Nyang, then KCB leaned on their strike runners, with Wabwire finishing just before the break to give the Bankers a cushion they would not relinquish.
George Ooro extended the lead after halftime, the kind of well-timed support line that is the signature of KCB’s system. Quins earned a penalty try after a dangerous tackle, a spark that ignited the RFUEA stands, but the Bankers kept their shape in the dying seconds. The 21-19 result was narrow, yet it felt authoritative, an assertion that KCB can win in more than one way when the stakes are highest.
On the other side of the draw, Menengai Oilers and Strathmore Leos played the kind of back and forth that gives knockout rugby its heartbeat. Beldad Ogeta struck first for Oilers, Barnabas Owuor responded, and the Leos briefly turned the tide when Gabriel Ayimba fed Victor Mola. Oilers would not go away, with Samuel Mwaura leveling before the break, and when Ayimba scored again it seemed Strathmore might edge it.
Yet the Oilers found their moment through Calvin Malewa, crossing late to seal a 24-19 win and spark joy in the Nakuru camp. It was their maiden Cup final of the season, a reward for steady improvement after finishing fifth at Driftwood 7s and fourth at Prinsloo 7s, and a statement that the Oilers are now a consistent force rather than a one-off storyline.
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Day one shocks and the fall of Kabras Sugar
The opening day belonged to the plot twists, none bigger than the defending champions Kabras Sugar falling out of the Cup competition. Arriving with their stars back, including Brian Tanga, Jone Kubu, Derrick Ashiundu, Griffins Chao, and William Mwanji, Kabras looked ominous on paper. They blitzed Ruga Ruga Select 34-5 in the opener, then everything tilted in a tense second round.
Daystar Falcons, youthful and fearless, struck with tries from Clinton Amukwachi and Chris Obuya to win 17-12, a result that changed the math of Pool C. Suddenly, Kabras needed perfection and a bit of luck, but Menengai Oilers shut the door with a 5-0 arm wrestle that sent the defending champions tumbling into the Challenge Trophy. It was a reminder that in sevens, star names mean little without tempo, discipline, and composure in the two-minute swings that decide matches.
For Kabras, the weekend became about pride, and they found some, grinding through the second tier and beating Mwamba 12-7 in the Challenge Trophy final. It did not soften the blow of the early exit, but it did put a competitive edge back into their campaign, a necessary reset ahead of the remaining circuit legs.
Hosts awaken the RFUEA and Leos steady the wheel
Pool A delivered a vibrant opening act, Kenya Harlequin thundering past Mombasa RFC 34-15, then dismantling Zetech Oaks 41-0 with Ramadhan Masete bagging four tries. The stands hummed and for a few hours Nairobi felt like a city willing its team into the last four, a mood that would carry into day two. Strathmore Leos weathered an early sting, stunned 19-17 by Zetech, yet they reset quickly, beating Mombasa 26-5 and then outlasting Quins 26-22 in a thriller to close the group.
That late surge from Strathmore showed why they were fresh from lifting Prinsloo 7s, a team with layers of attack and belief when matches become chaotic. Quins still walked away with their heads high, their sixth place finishes at Driftwood and Prinsloo replaced by the feel and rhythm of a Cup semifinal at home, a step forward that mattered to the faithful.
Monks impress, Impala recover, and Nondies fight on
Pool B belonged to the Catholic University of East Africa Monks, unbeaten through day one with wins over Impala RFC and MMUST, then a gritty 7-7 draw with Nakuru RFC to top the group. Hassan Wambani’s hat-trick against Impala turned heads, and the reliable work of Dennis Mulinge and Brian Nyamboki gave the Monks a spine that travelled well into knockouts. Their quarterfinal proved a bridge too far against Strathmore, yet the trajectory remains unmistakable, a surprise package growing into its own identity.
Impala’s arc was the day one revival story, a heavy defeat first, then wins over Nakuru and MMUST that booked a first Cup quarterfinal of the season. The bounce carried into placement play, where they beat Nondescripts 31-12 for fifth, a concrete yield from a weekend that began in doubt. Nondies, for their part, edged Mwamba 17-12 and shut out Blak Blad 10-0 on day one to make the last eight, then fought through to that 5th place decider.
Oilers’ rise, KCB’s authority, and the bracket that shaped Sunday
Pool C, dubbed the group of fire by fans, delivered on its billing. Menengai Oilers beat Daystar Falcons 15-12, eased past Ruga Ruga 26-7, then closed the circle with that 5-0 grind over Kabras. Daystar claimed their own headlines, toppling Kabras 17-12 and routing Ruga Ruga 38-5 to earn a quarterfinal against KCB, a tie that would teach the Falcons the thin margins of knockout rugby. Oilers handled Nondies in the last eight to reach the semifinal stage, a step that confirmed their upward trend.
Pool D was KCB’s canvas from the outset. They thumped Nondies 35-12, blanked Blak Blad 38-0, and then beat Mwamba 19-12 to complete a ruthless sweep. The Bankers were powered by George Ooro and Floyd Wabwire, who struck braces on day one, while Bramwel Kilwake and Samuel Asati added spark. Nondies joined them in the quarters, and the tone was set, if you wanted the Christie 7s crown, you had to go through the Bankers.
The bracket that delivered two very different journeys
By Sunday morning the Cup quarterfinal slate was etched, Kenya Harlequin versus Impala, KCB versus Daystar Falcons, Catholic Monks versus Strathmore Leos, Menengai Oilers versus Nondies. Quins broke through to the last four, KCB asserted themselves, Strathmore steadied, and Oilers stayed alive. The picture that formed was a microcosm of the season, KCB and Strathmore setting the pace, Oilers rising, Quins rediscovering their punch, and the Monks earning respect with every run.
Placement games added their own punctuation. Zetech University beat Blak Blad 32-7 for 13th, Kabras edged Mwamba 12-7 for the Challenge Trophy, and Impala outscored Nondies 31-12 for fifth. Each result carried a thread, for Kabras a reminder that resilience matters, for Impala a payoff after regrouping, for Zetech a milestone in their ascent to Division One.
The wider arc of the circuit and what comes next
Heading into the weekend, KCB and Strathmore were joint leaders in the circuit standings, each on 41 points following Driftwood and Prinsloo. Nairobi has likely reshaped the race in feel if not yet on paper, KCB now with an eighth Christie title and a second trophy of the season, Strathmore with another deep run that validates their growth. Menengai Oilers leave with a maiden Cup final this year, a line that should fuel belief in the next legs.
For Kenya Harlequin, the home semifinal was more than a bracket upgrade, it was a reconnection with a crowd that can tilt tight contests. For Daystar Falcons, the giant-killing of Kabras becomes a north star for how to play with conviction when the name across your chest is not the famous one. For Kabras Sugar, a weekend of introspection, star power must sync with structure and calm in the key moments that decide sevens tournaments.
Key takeaways from Christie 7s 2025
- KCB’s defensive poise and strike speed defined the final,
- Menengai Oilers confirmed consistency with a maiden Cup final this season,
- Strathmore Leos showed resilience after an early stumble,
- Kenya Harlequin rode the RFUEA energy into a stirring semifinal.
Names and moments that shaped Nairobi
Floyd Wabwire’s brace in the final will headline the highlight reels, but the foundation came from KCB’s collective, with Wahinya’s boot, Shiasi’s opportunism, and Ooro’s timing each leaving a mark. On day one, Ramadhan Masete’s four-try burst for Quins lit up the terraces, a signature of what home backs can do when front-foot ball arrives early and often.
For Oilers, Calvin Malewa’s late winner in the semi captured their spirit, while the craft of Beldad Ogeta and the power of Samuel Mwaura gave them presence across both halves. Strathmore leaned on the guile of Gabriel Ayimba and the finishing of Victor Mola, a tandem that kept their scoreboard ticking even when games became messy. The Monks, led by the pace of Hassan Wambani, added a fresh layer to the circuit conversation, speed and fearlessness that travels.
Why this title matters
In a season split across venues and moods, this was the leg that asked hard questions. KCB answered with control under pressure and a ruthless edge near the try line, the qualities that often separate champions in August from those chasing in September. The RFUEA weekend will be remembered for the fall of a defending champion, the rise of an Oilers team that believes, the resilience of a Leos side that never blinks, and the home roar that nearly carried Quins over the line.
As the circuit rolls on, the blueprint is clear, start fast, survive the swings, and let your game breakers decide the final two minutes. KCB did all of that, and they leave Nairobi with silverware in hand and a target on their back, which, if you read their body language at full time, is exactly how they like it.
