The 43rd edition of the Impala Floodlit Tournament gets underway on Saturday, October 17, with Kenyan rugby clubs and university sides set to battle for early-season honours at Impala Grounds and RFUEA Grounds.
Popularly known as Floodies, the annual pre-season competition remains an important fixture on the local rugby calendar, offering teams an opportunity to test their squads, assess new combinations and build momentum ahead of the new campaign.
This year’s tournament will run across three weekends, with matches scheduled for October 17, 24 and 31. The opening round features several intriguing encounters, but the clash between defending champions Menengai Oilers and KCB Rugby stands out as one of the day’s biggest attractions.
The two sides will meet at 4:00 PM at Impala Grounds, with Oilers looking to begin their title defence on a positive note against a KCB side that will be eager to make an early statement.
ALSO READ: Defending champs Oilers to face KCB in the 2026 Impala Floodlit quarter-finals
The encounter is expected to provide an early measure of both teams’ preparations, with the result potentially offering an indication of their readiness for the challenges ahead.
Earlier in the afternoon, Strathmore Leos will take on Mwamba RFC at 2:20 PM as the club competition gets underway. Both sides will be looking to make the most of their opening fixture and secure a place in the next stage.
Kenya Harlequin FC will then face Blak Blad at 5:40 PM in another contest that could produce an entertaining battle. With the competition moving into the evening, the teams will have little room for error as they look to progress.
Hosts Impala RFC will close the opening day’s club action against traditional rivals Nondies at 7:20 PM. The meeting promises to be a fitting conclusion to the first day, with both sides seeking to make an impression in front of the home crowd.
The university category will also take centre stage, with four quarter-final matches scheduled across the two venues from 11:00 AM.
At RFUEA Grounds, Zetech will take on KCA in the opening fixture before JKUAT face Mean Machine at 12:40 PM.
Meanwhile, Impala Grounds will host the meeting between Daystar and Kabete Stallions at 11:00 AM, followed by USIU against Impala Swara at 12:40 PM.
The university fixtures offer the participating sides an opportunity to showcase their depth and compete for a place in the next round. With the competition taking place alongside the club matches, supporters will have plenty of rugby to follow throughout the day.
As the tournament returns for its 43rd edition, attention will be on how the leading clubs begin their campaigns and whether the university sides can produce performances capable of challenging the established order.
With the opening matches spread across two venues and the defending champions facing a stern test from KCB, the first day of Floodies promises an exciting start to one of Kenya’s most recognisable rugby traditions.
Varsity quarter-finals
11:00 AM: Zetech vs KCA — RFUEA Grounds
11:00 AM: Daystar vs Kabete Stallions — Impala Grounds
12:40 PM: JKUAT vs Mean Machine — RFUEA Grounds
12:40 PM: USIU vs Impala Swara — Impala Grounds
Club quarter-finals
2:20 PM: Strathmore Leos vs Mwamba RFC — Impala Grounds
4:00 PM: Menengai Oilers vs KCB Rugby — Impala Grounds
5:40 PM: Kenya Harlequin FC vs Blak Blad — Impala Grounds
7:20 PM: Nondies vs Impala RFC — Impala Grounds
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