2014 Diani Beach Touch Rugby

Wednesday, 30 July 2014

The 2014 Diani Beach Touch Rugby was held on the weekend 11-13th July 2014, after a week of torrential rain and high winds. The event started with testing conditions for many of the visiting teams on Friday evening. Forty Thieves Beach Bar, Diani, saw 28 teams from 4 nations with some top Kenyan teams competing, turn up for the event. Good rugby and non-stop entertainment kept everyone happy…

A big thank you to all who contributed and made 2014’s Diani Touch Rugby such a great weekend in spite of the current situation at the Coast.

On the competition side –After two days of nonstop rugby the talent was evident with Les Gaulois G taking on Karen Crusaders 2 in the Main Cup Final and Jangilles up against Civicon in the Plate Final. As you can imagine when it comes to the end of the weekend - the best teams shine and shine they did offering the spectators a genuine spectacle. The Les Gaulois G team had a load of talent both young and old and proved just too good for Karen Crusaders, However, Les Gaulois G strengths allowed them to claim the Main Cup after 6 years of near wins.

  In their first year, Jangilles from Dar es Salaam, had a fast and exciting game against Civicon, coming out on top to take the Plate. 

The South Coast Buccaneers were all business from the outset in the Bowl Final with the local lads giving Les Gaulois 2 a run for their money, the game going from end to end. The scoreboard was close throughout until the Les Gaulois 2 finally took a lead, although the South Coast Buccaneers tried to come back it was too late and they were unable to equalise. It was another cracking game.

A great competitive weekend of Touch Rugby with referees from Nairobi, Mombasa, and South Africa controlling the event meant that all went to schedule and we were not beaten by the tides despite some close calls. And from all reports they did a fantastic job!

This community-wide sport serves to give players, families and friends a thoroughly enjoyable rugby experience and introduces a wider audience to Diani Beach and all that it has to offer.

The popularity of the tournament also serves as an economic boon to our area. The participation of 28 teams, coupled with their families and friends, brings an estimated 1,000 plus people to the area during the three-day event.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our sponsors, this would not have been possible without your participation:
-    Kenya Breweries:  Financial support/Entertainment/Logistics
-    Forty Thieves Beach Bar: Financial support/Meals/Logistics/Administration
-    Jetlak Foods Limited: Waba Water sponsor
-    XFOR/Skydive Diani: Security/Medical assistance/Ambulance
-    Kenya Tourism Board: Financial support
-    Civicon Limited: Pitch Markings
-    Valar Frontier Solutions:  Financial support
-    East African Glassware:  Glasses for the trophies

During the Event the organisers managed to raise funds for two worthy causes;
The local Rugby team, which will go towards ground improvements and better training equipment.
Age Grade Rugby also supported by the Rugby Patrons Society, giving street children an opportunity to be educated while learning to play rugby.

Our aim for the 2015 edition is to enter the International circuit thus enabling us to get a wider international attendance for the event and our country.
We strongly believe Kenya can make the International calendar in the coming months and we need all your invaluable support to add the exciting game of Touch Rugby to the East Africa Rugby fraternity.

We hope that you will renew your participation next year so that we can take Diani Beach Touch Rugby to an International level.

Save the dates 3rd, 4th and 5th July 2015 in your diaries for next year’s event and we look forward to having you on board with us in 2015.