Why Blak Blad and Impala are not at Dala 7s but Makueni are included

The National 7s Circuit returns in 2023 with the season opener set for Dala 7s in Kisumu from 1-2 July where sixteen teams will converge at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium for the Division One tournament.

Ahead of the lakeside tournament, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) released the pools for the tournament but Kenya Cup side Blak Blad and Impala, who were relegated from the top flight, were not anywhere to be seen.

An unexpected name in Makueni was however included in the tournament draw leading to a couple of questions. This article will clarify the above three scenarios.

For the season opener, KRU take the top 12 teams from last season plus the Division Two winner and three invited sides to make the sixteen teams that start the competition.

In the 2022 campaign, champions Menengai Oilers were joined by KCB, Strathmore University, Homeboyz, Mwamba, Kabras Sugar, Kenya Harlequin, Nakuru, Nondescripts, Masinde Muliro University, Daystar University and western Bulls as the top 12 teams thus locking out Impala and Blak Blad who finished in 14th and 15th respectively in the standings that had 23 teams.

As a result, for Blad and Impala to have featured they needed to get an invite to the competition, which they did not get as Kisumu used one of the three invites available and handed the other two to Catholic Monks and Mombasa RFC.

The remaining slot is a preserve of Division Two winners and that is how Makueni got into the tournament after lifting the Division Two crown last year, completing the 16 teams.

As the circuit progresses, it is the top 12 teams based on ranking from a previous tournament as well as the division two winners and three invitational sides who feature at the subsequent rounds.

The 13th, 14th, 15th and 16th placed team at the completion of each round are relegated to Division Two while the winning team from the Division Two Circuit Qualifying Tournament is promoted to the Division One of the upcoming tournament and seeded 13th.

Dala 7s Pools

The reigning champions Menengai Oilers are in Pool A alongside city rivals Nakuru, Nondescripts and Catholic Monks.

Last season’s NSC runners up KCB headline Pool B which features Kenya Harlequin, Masinde Muliro and Mombasa while Strathmore Leos are in Pool C with Kabras Sugar, Daystar Falcons and hosts Kisumu.

Dala 7s champions Homeboyz headline Pool D and will battle it out with Mwamba, Western Bulls and last season’s overall division 2 champions Makueni.

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Dala 7s

Pool A: Menenegai Oilers, Nakuru, Nondescripts, Catholic Monks

Pool B: KCB, Kenya Harlequin, Masinde Muliro, Mombasa

Pool C: Strathmore Leos, Kabras Sugar, Daystar Falcons, Kisumu

Pool D: Homeboyz, Mwamba, Western Bulls, Makueni

National Sevens Circuit points system

1. Cup Final Winner - 22

2. Cup Final Runner Up - 19

3. Cup Third Place Playoff Winner - 17

4.Cup Third Place Playoff Loser - 15

5. Cup Fifth Place Playoff Winner - 13

6. Cup Fifth Place Playoff Loser - 12

7&8. Cup Fifth Place Semifinal Losers - 10

9. Ninth Place Final Winner - 8

10. Ninth Place Final Loser - 7

11&12. Ninth Place Semifinal Losers - 5

13. Thirteenth Place Final Winner - 3

14. Thirteenth Place Final Loser - 2

15. Thirteenth Place Semifinal Losers - 1