INTERNATIONAL

Elgon Cup: Kenya Simbas vs Uganda 1st leg preview

By Amanga collins

Posted on November 7, 2024

Kenya Simbas in a past clash,. Photo Courtesy/World Rugby.

The 2024 Elgon Cup pitting Kenya Simbas against Uganda will be held on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at RFUEA Grounds as the competition returns to Nairobi post-COVID.

The Elgon Cup was last hosted in Nairobi on June 7, 2018. Since then, the Simbas’ last two home matches were held at Mamboleo Grounds in 2019 and 2023.

Elgon Cup 20th year

This marks the 20th year since these sides first met in this clash named after Mount Elgon, the mountain straddling the border of Kenya and Uganda.

Uganda’s Philip Wokorach in action against Kenya Simbas in Rugby Africa/Elgon Cup. PHOTO/Kwese

The Elgon Cup is contested over two legs on a home-and-away basis, with the winner on aggregate taking the prestigious trophy.

The first official Elgon Cup match between the Kenya Simbas and Uganda Rugby Cranes took place on July 31, 2004, in Nairobi, where Kenya emerged victorious with an 18-8 score.

Kenya and Uganda have a rich rugby history, having played each other 42 times since 1958, including pre-Elgon Cup matches. Their first encounter was on May 24, 1958, in Kampala, where Kenya claimed a 21-11 victory.

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It would be 39 years before the two sides met again, with Kenya posting a commanding 65-8 win at RFUEA Grounds on August 23, 1997.

Kenya recorded three more wins before Uganda’s first victory, a 31-22 win in Nairobi on October 5, 2002.

In the past 43 meetings, the Simbas have won 27 matches, Uganda has won 14, and two matches ended in draws. In their last encounter in Kisumu in November 2023, Kenya won 20-13 in the second leg after narrowly losing 21-20 in the first.

Previous Kenya Simbas-Uganda meetings

2023
– 11 Nov: Kenya 20-13 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 4 Nov: Uganda 21-20 Kenya

2022
– 2 July: Kenya 42-7 Uganda — Kenya won Non-Elgon

2019
– 13 July: Uganda 5-16 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 22 Jun: Kenya 13-17 Uganda

2018
– 7 Jun: Kenya 38-22 Uganda — Kenya won
– 26 May: Uganda 16-34 Kenya — Kenya won

2017
– 24 Jun: Kenya 33-33 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 10 Jun: Uganda 15-23 Kenya — Kenya won

2016
– 30 Jul: Kenya 45-24 Uganda — Kenya won
– 4 Jun: Uganda 10-48 Kenya — Kenya won

2015

20 Jun Uganda 30-25 Kenya A -Uganda won on aggregate

13 Jun Kenya A 20-17 Uganda

2014

19 July: Kenya A 34-0 Uganda- Kenya won on aggregate

12 July: Uganda 21-14 Kenya A

2013
– 10 Jul: Uganda 11-51 Kenya — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 22 Jun: Uganda 13-19 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 15 Jun: Kenya 16-17 Uganda — Uganda won

2012
– 10 Jul: Kenya 19-20 Uganda — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 28 Apr: Kenya 12-0 Uganda — Uganda won on aggregate
– 21 Apr: Uganda 19-5 Kenya — Uganda won

2011
– 16 Jul: Uganda 32-18 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 9 Jul: Kenya 27-10 Uganda — Kenya won

2010
– 10 Jul: Kenya 21-5 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 3 Jul: Uganda 25-33 Kenya — Kenya won

2009
– 29 Aug: Uganda 18-13 Kenya — Kenya won on aggregate
– 15 Aug: Kenya 30-22 Uganda — Kenya won

2008
– 16 Aug: Kenya 39-20 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 24 May: Uganda 20-3 Kenya — Uganda won

2007
– 26 Sep: Uganda 24-12 Kenya — Non-Elgon Cup match
– 11 Aug: Kenya 35-15 Uganda — Kenya won on aggregate
– 26 May: Uganda 29-10 Kenya — Uganda won

2006
– 12 Aug: Kenya 20-22 Uganda — Uganda won on aggregate
– 13 May: Uganda 7-7 Kenya — Draw

2005
– 25 Jun: Uganda 5-8 Kenya — Kenya won

2004
– 31 Jul: Kenya 18-8 Uganda — Kenya won

2003
– 14 Jun: Uganda 21-22 Kenya

2002
– 5 Oct: Kenya 22-31 Uganda
– 21 Jul: Uganda 8-12 Kenya

2001
– 29 Sep: Kenya 44-17 Uganda
– 28 Jul: Kenya 12-9 Uganda

1997
– 23 Aug: Kenya 65-8 Uganda

1958
– 24 May: Uganda 11-21 Kenya

Current World Rankings

The Kenya Simbas enter the match ranked 37th, while Uganda is just ahead at 36th, with 49.38 points to Kenya’s 49.03.

Kenya Simbas’ Recent Form

Jerome Paarwater’s charges head into this match after a challenging outing in the Rugby Africa Cup in mid 2024. In the quarterfinals, the Simbas managed a victory over Senegal.

However, they struggled in the semifinals, losing 20-12 to Algeria at Nelson Mandela Stadium in Namboole. In the third-place playoff, they were defeated 38-22 by Namibia.

These results caused the Simbas to drop in the World Rankings, but returning to RFUEA Grounds gives them the chance to rebound at a venue where they have a strong record.

Uganda Cranes’ Recent Performances

The Uganda Cranes also had a mixed showing in the Rugby Africa Cup. They embarked on a preparatory tour in South Africa before entering the tournament. In their opening match, Uganda lost a close game to Zimbabwe Sables, 21-20, despite a strong late push.

Uganda Cranes Ivan Magomu evades Kenya Simbas marker. Photo Courtesy/Uganda Rugby

Uganda Cranes Ivan Magomu evades Kenya Simbas marker in Elgon Cup. Photo Courtesy/Uganda Rugby

They later recorded a 25-15 victory over Burkina Faso in the fifth-place semifinal and concluded the tournament with a 34-31 win over Senegal in the fifth-place playoff.

The Cranes will be eager to claim their first win on Kenyan soil since 2019 when they pulled off a 17-13 upset at Mamboleo Grounds.

The last time they played at RFUEA Grounds, they suffered a 38-22 loss, although they had held Kenya to a thrilling 33-33 draw there the year before.