KRU unveils Kenya Cup 2026 15s calendar
By Joel Masibo, January 5, 2026Kenya Rugby Union has unveiled the Kenya Cup 2026 15s calendar with the league set to officially resume this week after the holiday break, ushering in five action-packed months of top-tier fifteens rugby across the country.
With clubs returning to competitive action, KRU has released key dates that will shape the domestic rugby calendar through to May.
2026 XV’s calendar
The league resumes on Saturday, January 10, 2026, setting the stage for intense battles as teams push for early momentum. Attention will then shift to the In-country Enterprise Cup quarter-finals scheduled for Saturday, February 7, 2026, before the competition briefly pauses a week later for the HSBC SVNS 2, prompting a league break on February 14, 2026.
Action resumes on Saturday, February 21, 2026, with clubs diving back into league duty as the race for playoff positions intensifies. The Enterprise Cup continues with the cross-country quarter-finals on Saturday, March 21, 2026, followed by the semi-finals and championship playoffs on Saturday, April 11, 2026.
The business end of the season begins mid-April, starting with the Kenya Cup playoffs and championship semi-finals on Saturday, April 18, 2026. A week later, on Saturday, April 25, 2026, the spotlight will be on the Kenya Cup semi-finals alongside the Eric Shirley Shield semi-finals, as teams battle for a place in the finals.
The season will reach its climax on Saturday, May 2, 2026, when the Championship Finals take centre stage. A week later, on May Saturday, 9, 2026, the curtain will fall on the 15s season with the Kenya Cup Finals and the Eric Shirley Shield Finals, crowning the year’s champions.
Transfer business
Meanwhile, the 2025/2026 Kenya Rugby Union mid-season transfer window has witnessed significant player movement across the league, with several top clubs strengthening their squads before the window closed on Wednesday, December 31, 2025, having opened on Wednesday, December 17, 2025.
KCB Rugby were among the busiest, securing the services of former Kenya Harlequins captain Sheldon Kahi and Richel Wangila in major boosts to their roster. The bankers also added Richard Liva, who makes the switch following a short stint at Impala RFC, underlining KCB’s intent to mount a strong second-half push of the XV`s season.
Nondescripts RFC were equally active, making notable acquisitions ahead of the business end of the season. Long-time Strathmore Leos skipper Barnabas Owuor has joined the Red Lions, bringing leadership and experience to the Ngong Road outfit.