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Tag: KCB Kobs

  • KCB KOBs cross the Border for a Battle of the KCBs

    KCB KOBs cross the Border for a Battle of the KCBs

    Uganda’s 13-time champions face KCB Rugby in a cross-border showdown that brings two sides, one name, and a shared passion for rugby onto the same stage

    There is a familiar name on both sides of this East African rugby contest. The difference will be decided on the pitch. KCB KOBs will cross the border into Kenya on 3rd October 2026 to take on KCB Rugby at KCB Sports Club, Ruaraka, at 3:00 p.m., in a meeting of two clubs linked by the KCB name and united by the same hunger to win.

    The cross-border contest will then return to Uganda on 24th October 2026, when KCB KOBs will host KCB Rugby at Kampala Grounds (formerly Legends Ground), allowing Ugandan supporters to witness the second leg on home soil.For KOBs, the trip comes at a timely moment. The Blue Army recently ended a two-year wait for a Uganda Rugby 7s Series stop title, fighting back from 19-5 down at halftime to beat Rams RFC 22-19 in the Kyabazinga 7s final. It was the kind of comeback that can change the mood around a team, and KCB KOBs will be hoping to carry that belief across the border.

    But if the Ugandans arrive with renewed confidence, they know they will face a KCB Rugby side accustomed to the demands of high-level Kenyan rugby. That is what makes this encounter particularly interesting. The two clubs may share a sponsor and a name, but once the whistle goes, there will be no room for familiarity.

    For KCB Bank Uganda, the fixture is another chapter in a partnership that has grown considerably since the bank joined hands with KOBs in 2023. The partnership gave KCB naming rights to the club and saw the side take on the KCB KOBs identity, creating a visible connection between the bank and one of Uganda’s most historic rugby clubs. KOBs, founded in 1963, have won 13 Premiership titles and remain one of the country’s most decorated rugby sides. What started as a sponsorship has since developed into a longer-term relationship centered on keeping the club competitive and supporting its ambitions. In 2025, KCB Bank Uganda renewed and increased its support to UGX195 million, including funding for a new playing kit and support towards the club’s operations. The bank has continued to position the partnership around sport, community and the development of talent. That makes Saturday’s meeting particularly fitting. On one side will be KCB KOBs, carrying the KCB name into Kenya.

    On the other will be KCB Rugby, the Kenyan club carrying that same name on home soil.It is a meeting that illustrates how sport can create connections that go beyond borders while still giving supporters exactly what they want: a competitive rugby match.

    For KCB KOBs, the challenge will be to match the physicality and pace of their Kenyan opponents while maintaining the discipline that has helped them rediscover their winning touch. Their recent Kyabazinga 7s victory showed that this is a team capable of fighting when the odds turn against it. After trailing Rams by 14 points at the break, the team found another gear in the second half to complete the comeback and lift the trophy.That resilience will be valuable in Kenya.

    Cross-border fixtures offer players a different kind of test. The atmosphere is different, the pressure is different, and there is always an added desire to prove that Ugandan rugby can stand toe-to-toe with its neighbours.KCB KOBs have already had a taste of that this year through the return of the Enterprise Cup, where Ugandan clubs faced Kenyan opposition in a competition designed to strengthen competition and connections between the two rugby communities. Now they have another opportunity, and this time, there is an added storyline. They are not simply travelling to Kenya to play a Kenyan club, but they will be coming face to face with a fellow KCB-backed side. That should make for an intriguing battle.

    For the bank, the result will matter, but so will the bigger picture: seeing a Ugandan club compete on a regional stage, giving players exposure to a different level of competition and strengthening a partnership that has continued to grow since 2023. As for the rugby club, the message will be much simpler.

    Take the trip, take the hits, play the game, and come home with the bragging rights because when KCB KOBs meet KCB Rugby, the jerseys may carry the same name, but for 80 minutes, there will be only one thing that matters. Who wins the battle on the pitch?

  • KCB KOBs end Trophy wait in style, lift Kyabazinga 7s Crown

    KCB KOBs end Trophy wait in style, lift Kyabazinga 7s Crown

    Jinja: KCB KOBs have finally got their hands on gold. After coming agonisingly close in previous stops of the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series, the Blue Army turned persistence into silverware on Sunday, overcoming Rams RFC 22–19 in a thrilling Kyabazinga 7s final at Bugembe Stadium in Jinja.

    The victory marks KCB KOBs’ first tournament triumph of the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series, and could not have come at a more crucial point in their campaign, with only one stop remaining. More importantly, it was the manner of the victory that sent a message.

    KCB KOBs did not lose a single game throughout the two-day tournament, finishing the weekend with 127 points scored and only 72 conceded across six matches, a commanding display of attacking firepower and defensive resilience. The road to the trophy, however, was anything but easy. The team opened their campaign on Saturday in Pool C with a 17–10 victory over Rams RFC, before beating Mbale Elephants 31–21.

    They completed the pool stage with a 19–10 win over Plascon Mongers, finishing unbeaten and booking their place in the knockout stages. They then returned on Sunday with the same intensity and dismantled Plascon Mongers 26–7 in the quarterfinal, before edging Stanbic Black Pirates 12–5 in a tense semifinal, setting up a repeat meeting with Rams RFC in the title decider. The final proved to be the sternest test of the weekend.Rams came out firing and put KCB KOBs under immediate pressure, taking their chances early to establish a 12–5 half-time lead. But rather than buckle, the boys dug deep, absorbed the pressure and came roaring back after the break.

    Brian Wandera and Shafik Okole crossed for tries, before Josiah Ssempeke and Rasul Abiriga added further scores as KCB KOBs turned up the attacking pressure. Rams mounted a late response, but the Blue Army held their composure and shape to close out a dramatic 22–19 victory and claim the Kyabazinga 7s crown.

    Noela Byuma, Head of Marketing and Communications at KCB Bank Uganda, congratulated the team on the breakthrough victory, noting that the triumph reflects the values that continue to drive both the club and its partnership with KCB Bank Uganda. “This victory is a powerful reminder that success is often built through persistence. KCB KOBs have continued to show up, compete, and push themselves even when the results did not immediately go their way, and this trophy is a reward for that resilience. We are proud to stand with them and celebrate this important milestone. At KCB Bank Uganda, we believe in supporting platforms that nurture talent, build confidence, and give young people the opportunity to excel. This win is a celebration for everyone who believes in the power of sport to inspire and transform lives.”

    The win has also significantly strengthened the team’s position in the race for the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series title. The side entered the Kyabazinga 7s in fourth place with 60 series points. Their tournament victory earned them 22 additional points, taking their tally to 82 points with one stop remaining.

    For KOBs captain Josiah Ssempeke, it is the beginning of something bigger. “It feels great to win the Kyabazinga 7s after having near misses in the previous stops. It’s going to be a stepping stone for us in general to get back to fighting for Gold in both 7s and 15s. We’ll maintain the same focus going into the last stop and hope for the best.”

    KOBs 7s Coach Trevor Tusiime believes the victory is the result of a system that has been steadily building throughout the season. “We have been knocking on the door for quite a while. I think the squad has been performing tremendously well over the stops, with progress in every circuit regardless of who is playing and who is not. I am not shocked we are winning it at this stage; rather, the system was not built for immediate glory but to stick for years of future 7s success regardless of who is playing. This victory will push a certain positive energy moving forward; one would call it KCB KOBs back.”

    Attention now shifts to the Kabaka Coronation 7s, the Grand Finale of the Uganda Rugby 7s Series, scheduled for this Friday and Saturday at Mutesa II Royal Stadium, Wankulukuku. With the Uganda Cup season also on the horizon, KCB KOBs will be looking to carry the momentum from Jinja into the next chapter of their campaign. After spending much of the season knocking on the door, the Blue Army have finally broken through. They have their trophy. Now, the real question is: can they turn this breakthrough into a championship run?