A new champion will be crowned at the 2026 Dala 7s after defending champions KCB Rugby were knocked out in the Cup quarter-finals by Kenya Harlequins as the semi-final line-up was confirmed on Sunday at the Jomo Kenyatta International Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu.
Kenya Harlequins produced one of the biggest upsets of the tournament with a hard-fought 14-12 victory over the Bankers. Patrick Wainaina starred for Quins with two tries, crossing inside the opening minute before adding his second in the 11th minute.
KCB replied through Brian Wahinya and George Ooro but fell two points short as Harlequins held on to reach the last four. The closely contested encounter also saw KCB’s Festus Safari and Nygel Amaitsa shown yellow cards in the second half.
The defeat ended KCB’s 21-match unbeaten run on the National Sevens Circuit, a streak that stretched from last season. Earlier in the tournament, the Bankers had already seen their 20-match winning streak snapped after being held to a 19-19 draw by MMUST before Harlequins inflicted their first defeat of the campaign.
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Kabras Sugar RFC maintained their impressive run with a commanding 29-5 victory over Daystar Falcons to book their place in the semi-finals. Menengai Oilers also progressed after comfortably defeating Zetech Oaks 33-7, extending their unbeaten run in the tournament.
The final Cup quarter-final proved to be the closest contest after Mwamba RFC edged Strathmore Leos 15-14 to complete the semi-final line-up.
Earlier in the day, MMUST defeated Mombasa Rugby 21-12, hosts Kisumu RFC beat Nakuru RFC 36-19, Blak Blad saw off Impala RFC 26-5, while Nondescripts RFC cruised to a 41-5 victory over Embu RFC in the Challenge Trophy quarter-finals.
The semi-finals will now see Kenya Harlequins take on Kabras Sugar RFC in the first last-four clash at 2:20 pm, before Mwamba RFC face Menengai Oilers in the second semi-final at 2:40 pm.
The winners will advance to the men’s Cup final scheduled for 5:00 pm, while the defeated semi-finalists will meet in the third-place playoff at 3:54 pm.
2026 Dala 7s – Day Two Order of Play
Match 25 – 9:00 AM: MMUST 21-12 Mombasa Rugby
Match 26 – 9:20 AM: Nakuru RFC 19-36 Kisumu RFC
Match 27 – 9:40 AM: Blak Blad 26-5 Impala RFC
Match 28 – 10:00 AM: Nondescripts RFC 41-5 Embu RFC
Match 29 (Cup Quarter-final 1) – 10:20 AM: KCB Rugby 12-14 Kenya Harlequins
Match 30 (Cup Quarter-final 2) – 10:40 AM: Kabras Sugar RFC 29-5 Daystar Falcons
Match 31 (Cup Quarter-final 3) – 11:00 AM: Menengai Oilers 33-7 Zetech Oaks
Match 32 (Cup Quarter-final 4) – 11:20 AM: Mwamba RFC 15-14 Strathmore Leos
Women’s Semi-final 1 – 11:40 AM: Winner QF1 vs Winner QF3
Women’s Semi-final 2 – 12:00 PM: Winner QF2 vs Winner QF4
Match 33 – 12:20 PM: Nakuru RFC vs Mombasa Rugby
Match 34 – 12:40 PM: Embu RFC vs Impala RFC
Match 35 – 1:00 PM: MMUST vs Kisumu RFC
Match 36 – 1:20 PM: Nondescripts RFC vs Blak Blad
Match 37 – 1:40 PM: KCB Rugby vs Daystar Falcons
Match 38 – 2:00 PM: Strathmore Leos vs Zetech Oaks
Match 39 (Men’s Cup Semi-final 1) – 2:20 PM: Kenya Harlequins vs Kabras Sugar RFC
Match 40 (Men’s Cup Semi-final 2) – 2:40 PM: Mwamba RFC vs Menengai Oilers
Men’s 5th Place Play-off – 3:10 PM: Winner Match 37 vs Winner Match 38
Women’s 3rd Place Play-off – 3:32 PM: Women Loser Cup SF1 vs Women Loser Cup SF2
Men’s 3rd Place Play-off – 3:54 PM: Loser Cup SF1 (Match 39) vs Loser Cup SF2 (Match 40)
Division Two Final – 4:16 PM
Women’s Final – 4:38 PM: Women Winner Semis 1 vs Women Winner Semis 2
Men’s Final – 5:00 PM: Winner Semi-final 1 vs Winner Semi-final 2
