The Kenya Rugby Union will become the first sports Federation in the country to bar unvaccinated players from competing after the Union announced new measures for the Kenya Cup season which begins this weekend.
According to the Union, all players must present their vaccination certificates to be cleared to play for their respective clubs.
Last season, the Kenya Cup was played amid several postponements due to COVID-19 cases among teams and to mitigate this, the Union has taken the decision to only allow vaccinated players to feature for their clubs.
Last year as the country clamoured for the return of sports due to the three-month stop occasioned by the pandemic, the government through the Ministry of Sports organized for the vaccination of all sportsmen in the country.
There will six matches planned for the opening weekend. The season will again be played on a one off, round robin basis with the top four teams qualifying for the semi-final playoffs with the final slated for March 5 next year.
Strathmore Leos get the new season underway when they host Nakuru in the day’s early kick off at the RFUEA Ground. This match will pave the way for the Ngong Road derby when hosts Kenya Harlequin and Impala Saracens face off.
Last season’s runners up Kabras Sugar will be at home to Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad at the Moi Showground, Kakamega with Masinde Muliro hosting Nondescripts at the MMUST Campus in Lurambi, Kakamega.
Menengai Oilers welcome Mwamba to the Nakuru Showground while defending champions KCB host Homeboyz at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Cup will for the first time have a separate Women’s League running concurrently, with three matches scheduled for this weekend.