After enjoying a successful 2024 that saw them bag rugby 7s silver and gold at the national and East Africa games respectively, Friends High School Vihiga have now set their eyes on the rugby 15s national gong.
The newly crowned Western Region champions are among eight sides that will be battling for glory at the 2025 Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) National Term One games set for April 7 to 12 at Shanzu Teachers College and Shimo la Tewa High School, Mombasa.
Vihiga, who have been national regulars in the 7s contest, are yearning to succeed in the longer version of the game.
They will also be looking to seal their berth at this year’s Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) games, which Kenya will host from August 14 -22.
Vihiga edged out 2014 national champions St Peter’s Mumias 3-0 in a nerve-wracking final to book their tickets to Mombasa.
Head coach Abdalla Abubakar believes that even though rugby 15s is more demanding in all aspects he is ready for the challenge.
“It’s more demanding than rugby 7s because it requires more numbers and not just numbers, but quality players who are skilled in the game and are also physically fit to go all the way and deliver,” Abubakar said.
He added that having excelled in rugby 7s last year, their main objective now is to win the 15s trophy. “We are determined to also bag the 15s trophy; the boys have been working very hard because they desire to add a 15s title to their name. There is everything to fight for at the nationals because by going for the 15s title, we have temporarily let go of our East Africa 7s trophy.”
Abubakar said that it’s a tough choice they had to make because it’s impossible to raise strong teams in both rugby 7s and 15s in one season.
Vihiga are in Group B alongside rivals Friends Bwake Boys School from Rift Valley who they played last year in the national and East Africa finals.
They will also be up against Nyanza champions Kisii School and Coast boys Marafa Secondary School. Kisii and Marafa will be looking to improve on their 2024 sixth and seventh place finishes.
However, it’s not just their Group B opponents that they should be wary of.
Group A has reigning national and East Africa champions All Saints Embu from Eastern whose only mission will be to defend their honour.
Former national champions Upper Hill from Nairobi will also be out to announce that they are back after many years in the cold. The 2018 national and East Africa winners return to the games after a four-year absence and will be hoping to make up for the lost time.
Central Region champions Mang’u High School, who are also the 2010 national titleholders, complete Group A.
Mang’u have dominated Central for the past two years but have always fallen short at the nationals despite being one of the sides that have won the coveted national trophy.
