The 2024 Federation of East Africa Secondary Schools Sports Association (FEASSSA) Rugby 15s tournament commenced with a bang on August 19, 2024, as Kenyan schools showcased their prowess in Mbale, Uganda. The opening day of the tournament saw Butula Boys High School, the runners-up in the Kenyan Secondary National 15s, deliver a dominant performance that set the tone for the competition.
Butula Boys High School, under the guidance of the experienced Libondo Shimenga, delivered a spectacular display of rugby as they overpowered Uganda’s Kings College Budo with a resounding 60-0 victory. This emphatic win not only affirmed Butula’s intent to chase the title but also sent a clear message to their competitors. Their strong showing on Day 1 positions them as a formidable contender as they prepare to face Kitondo School from Kenya in their next pool B preliminary match scheduled for today at 11:00 AM.
The reigning Kenyan champions, All Saints Embu, also made their mark on Day 1 with a hard-fought victory over Uganda’s St. Mary’s College Kisubi. In a match characterized by intense competition, All Saints narrowly secured a 24-23 win. Leading 16-13 at halftime, they managed to hold onto their slim advantage with a try and a penalty, clinching a critical win. All Saints Embu will now square off against Lenana School from Kenya later today in the evening, with their second pool A fixture set to kick off at 4:00 PM.
Lenana School, another strong Kenyan representative, also emerged victorious in their opening match. They faced a tough challenge against Uganda’s Namilyango College but managed to secure a 10-7 win in a closely contested encounter. This victory adds to the growing list of successful outings for Kenyan schools in the tournament and further bolsters their chances in the ongoing competition.
In another notable match, Kitondo SS from Kenya edged out Makerere College School of Uganda with a 16-10 win. This result capped off a successful Day 1 for Kenyan schools and set the stage for an exciting continuation of the tournament.
The results from Day 1 are as follows:
- All Saints Embu 24-23 St. Mary’s College Kisubi
- Lenana School 10-07 Namilyango College
- Kings College Budo 00-60 Butula Boys High School
- Kitondo SS 16-10 Makerere College School
The tournament is structured into two pools:
- Pool A includes All Saints Embu (Kenya), St. Mary’s Kisubi (Uganda), Lenana School (Kenya), and Namilyango College (Uganda).
- Pool B features Kings College Budo (Uganda), Makerere College (Uganda), Butula Boys (Kenya), and Kitondo School (Kenya).
As the tournament progresses, Day 2 promises to be equally thrilling. The fixtures for today are:
- Kings College Budo vs Makerere College at 9:00 AM
- Butula Boys vs Kitondo School at 11:00 AM
- Namilyango College vs St. Mary’s Kisubi at 2:00 PM
- All Saints Embu vs Lenana School at 4:00 PM
With Kenyan schools dominating the initial matches, the competition is set to intensify as teams vie for top honors in the FEASSSA Rugby 15s tournament. The strong performances on Day 1 have set a high bar, and it will be fascinating to see how the teams fare as they continue their quest for glory in this prestigious regional rugby event.
