The Strathmore Leos defended their Prinsloo title, becoming back-to-back champions. Leos delivered a ruthless masterclass in rugby sevens, storming past KCB Rugby 24-7 in a high-stakes final to successfully defend their title and announce their intent to dominate this year’s SportPesa National Sevens Circuit.

Tries from Vincent Mola, Barnabas Owuor, and Stanslaus Shikoli sealed the deal in style and left no doubt about who owned the pitch. For Leos fans, it was redemption served hot, a rematch of the Driftwood 7s final, where KCB had narrowly snatched victory 15-14.

“This tournament has always been good to us,” said Leos’ head coach, Willis Ojal, visibly proud of his team’s relentless grit and composure. “We came with no pressure, just purpose. And the boys delivered.”

Prinsloo Champions! Photography credits: SportPesa and Fanaka Studios

Road to the Final

Placed in Group B, the Leos began their campaign with a clinical 26-5 win over Daystar Falcons, followed by a demolition of Division Two champs Zetech Oaks, 38-0. Though they stumbled in a 17-7 loss to Menengai Oilers, they rose stronger. The quarterfinals saw them shut out Kenya Harlequin 26-0, before unleashing a 40-point blitz against Catholic Monks in the semis.

Then came the final, a grudge match. And this time, the Leos hunted with intent.

Stars Shine Bright

Leading from the front was Barnabas Owuor, co-captain and try-scorer, whose performance embodied the unity and ambition of this rising squad.

“This is special,” Owuor said after lifting the trophy. “We’re building something great at Leos. There’s belief, there’s trust, and there’s hunger. Our goal is to win the overall series but we’re taking it one game, one tournament at a time.”

No conversation about the Prinsloo final would be complete without mentioning Victor Mola, whose performance was nothing short of spectacular. Mola swept every individual accolade in Division One from top try scorer, top points scorer, to player of the final, with 8 tries and a flawless 100% line break efficiency.

Top try scorer! Top points scorer! Player of the final: Photography credits: SportPesa and Fanaka Studios

“I feel great, but this is not a solo effort,” Mola said humbly. “We’ve worked as a unit. Every point, every tackle, every sprint, every try was for the team.”

Next Stop: Christie 7s

With their sights now set on the Christie Sevens in Nairobi (August 16–17), the Leos have made it clear they are chasing the Overall Series Gong. Headlining Group A, they will battle against Kenya Harlequins, Zetech Oaks, and an as-yet-unnamed invitational team.

Coach Ojal emphasized the long-term vision: “Beyond silverware, we want to nurture players ready for national duty while maintaining consistency in the circuit.”

The roar from Nakuru has faded, but make no mistake, the jungle belongs to the Leos. And they are just getting started.

Article written by Stephen Wakhu