Kabras half-back Brian Tanga in action against Nondies in a past league match/ HANDOUT
Rwanda and Burundi national rugby teams are set to feature in the 2027 Enterprise Cup as the tournament continues its expansion into a regional competition.
The move follows the successful integration of Ugandan clubs into the 2026 edition, with Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) director of leagues and competitions, Leslie Mwangale, confirming that discussions with the two neighbouring countries have already taken place.
“Remember this year we started the cross-quarterfinal matches between Kenya and Uganda, which were a huge success. Now our neighbours have expressed interest, and we hope to integrate them and make the tournament an even bigger success,” said Mwangale.
He noted that cross-border competitions are the future of rugby development in the region, pointing to successful international club tournaments in Europe and the Southern Hemisphere.
“If you go to Europe, you have the European Cup featuring provincial clubs from England, France, Italy, Ireland and Wales, with South African teams joining recently. If you look at Super Rugby, you have teams from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. It is something we need to encourage in our region because it raises standards and strengthens competition,” he said.
Mwangale added that the KRU hopes to further expand the competition in the coming years by bringing on board clubs from Zimbabwe and Zambia.
“We are looking to see our brothers from Zimbabwe and Zambia join the competition and make it even more entertaining because they have a strong and rich rugby history,” he added.
He also revealed that the union is actively seeking a title sponsor for the region’s oldest rugby competition. “We are engaging sponsors to see how they can get value for money by partnering with us and getting involved in this competition,” said Mwangale.
He noted that the full format and composition of the expanded 2027 Enterprise Cup will be announced in due course. The 2026 edition featured four Ugandan clubs—Pirates, Heathens, Kobs and Buffaloes—alongside Kenyan sides Kabras RFC, KCB RFC, Nondescripts and Menengai Oilers.
Kabras successfully defended their title, defeating Uganda’s Pirates 25-13 in the final at the RFUEA Grounds to claim a sixth consecutive Enterprise Cup crown. The Kakamega-based side has dominated the competition since 2019, underlining its status as Kenya’s premier knockout rugby club.
