Homeboyz RFC
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Homeboyz Rugby Football Club is a rugby union club based in Nairobi, Kenya, that competes in the Kenya Cup, Eric Shirley Shield, Enterprise Cup and Mwamba Cup. Formed in 2009, Homeboyz also has a women's team that competes in the Kenya Rugby Football Union women's league every year. Both the men's and women's teams also compete in the Kenya National Sevens Circuit that happens annually. Their main home ground is Jamhuri Park.
History
Foundation and early years
Homeboyz was officially founded in 2009. This was a result of the perceived need in the market to accommodate the younger players who felt that they were not being given enough opportunities to play competitive rugby. As a start-up team in 2009, Homeboyz RFC was initially placed in the lower-tier Eric Shirley Shield. After winning the Eric Shirley Shield two seasons in a row, they earned their promotion to Kenya Cup.
The women's team was formed in 2016 after Homeboyz decided to give women a platform to showcase their talent. The women's game is still relatively young but has made great strides in the past years. The team has been consistent in the Kenya Rugby Football Union women's league and produced five women who represented the country in the 2016 Summer Olympics.
Tours
Against Uganda Select
Homeboyz first toured Uganda in 2018 having won the Enterprise Cup to face a Ugandan Select side as an initiative to promote rugby in the region. They won the match 18 - 10 with Bush Mwale and Roy Wesonga scoring a try each and Kelvin Masai kicking over two penalties and a conversion.
Dubai 7s
Homeboyz first toured Dubai in 2010 to play in the Dubai 7's Men's Invitational Tournament. This was after taking part in three of the five legs of the National Sevens Circuit and winning over many fans.
In 2018, Homeboyz won three legs of the National Sevens Circuit which saw them crowned 7's champions that season. This was rewarded by a trip to the Dubai 7's Men's Invitational Tournament once again where the side narrowly lost to the Emerging Boks.
Club success (2009–2019)
In 2009, Homeboyz had a stint in the National Sevens Circuit playing in three of the five tournaments of the circuit. Homeboyz RFC played the Prinsloo Sevens (Nakuru), Driftwoods Sevens (Mombasa) and in the Kabeberi Sevens (Nairobi) where they won their first trophy in the shield category.
In 2010, Homeboyz Rugby participated in their first 15's fixture playing in the Eric Shirley Shield, which they won in their inaugural year. Homeboyz were crowned champions after a win against Kisumu RFC at the University of Nairobi grounds. They were not promoted to play in the Kenya Cup due to some technicalities.
In 2011, the team went ahead and defended the Eric Shirley Shield trophy to secure a chance to play in the highest league in the country, Kenya Cup. The same year also saw Homeboyz win the Mwamba Cup.
In 2013, Homeboyz Rugby finished 4th in the National Sevens Circuit winning their first sevens main cup trophy, the Kabeberi 7s.
In 2014, Homeboyz missed the Kenya Cup playoff place by a single point. That same year they bagged their second sevens main cup trophy by lifting the Driftwood 7's and finishing second overall in the National Sevens Circuit.
In the 2015 Enterprise Cup, the team reaches its first senior final in the Enterprise Cup losing 28 - 0 to KCB.
In 2016, Homeboyz Rugby won the overall National Sevens Circuit, setting a record for playing in all the finals in a six leg format and winning three of them, Prinsloo 7's, Dala 7's and Nanyuki 7's.
In 2017, Homeboyz RFC finished third overall in the National Sevens Circuit having won the Driftwood 7's and Dala 7's in the process. That same year saw them reach the Kenya Cup semi-finals for the first time after finishing the regular season in position one. Homeboyz RFC drew an average home attendance of 205 in the 2017 season.
In 2018, they won the Enterprise Cup, beating Impala Saracens 21 - 3 at the RFUEA Ground. That same year saw Homeboyz reclaim the overall National Sevens Circuit, winning four, Prinsloo 7's, Sepetuka 7's, Kabeberi 7's and Christie 7's, of the six legs on offer. They also had a decent run in the Kenya Cup, finishing second in the regular season before falling to Kabras 29 - 13 in the semi-final.
Current standings
Kenya Cup
| Alpha | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 Kenya Cup table | ||||||||||
| 2019–20 Kenya Cup table | ||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TBP | PTS | |
| 1 | Kenya Kabras | 16 | 15 | 0 | 1 | 677 | 132 | +545 | 14 | 74 |
| 2 | Kenya KCB | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 573 | 213 | +360 | 14 | 71 |
| 3 | Kenya Homeboyz | 16 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 524 | 232 | +292 | 12 | 66 |
| 4 | Kenya Impala | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 406 | 307 | +99 | 12 | 48 |
| 5 | Kenya Mwamba | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 389 | 391 | -2 | 7 | 43 |
| 6 | Kenya Menengai Oilers | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 412 | 382 | +30 | 9 | 41 |
| 7 | Kenya Nakuru | 16 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 323 | 393 | -70 | 6 | 38 |
| 8 | Kenya Blak Blad | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 326 | 453 | -127 | 8 | 28 |
| 9 | Kenya Harlequin | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 283 | 414 | -131 | 7 | 27 |
| 10 | Kenya Nondescripts | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 316 | 444 | -128 | 6 | 26 |
| 11 | Kenya Western Bulls | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 188 | 509 | -321 | -1 | 11 |
| 12 | Kenya Kisumu | 16 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 173 | 738 | -565 | -2 | 2 |
Eric Shirley Shield
| Bravo | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019–20 Eric Shirley Shield table | ||||||||||
| 2019–20 Eric Shirley Shield table | ||||||||||
| Team | P | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | TBP | PTS | |
| 1 | Kenya KCB | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 638 | 163 | +475 | 14 | 72 |
| 2 | Kenya Kabras | 16 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 576 | 103 | +473 | 14 | 72 |
| 3 | Kenya Menengai Oilers | 16 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 471 | 259 | +212 | 13 | 65 |
| 4 | Kenya Homeboyz | 16 | 11 | 1 | 4 | 390 | 225 | +165 | 8 | 54 |
| 5 | Kenya Impala | 16 | 10 | 1 | 5 | 458 | 202 | +256 | 10 | 52 |
| 6 | Kenya Mwamba | 16 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 370 | 298 | +72 | 10 | 44 |
| 7 | Kenya Nakuru | 16 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 317 | 336 | -19 | 8 | 44 |
| 8 | Kenya Blak Blad | 16 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 186 | 572 | -386 | 4 | 24 |
| 9 | Kenya Harlequin | 16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 232 | 407 | -175 | 4 | 22 |
| 10 | Kenya Nondescripts | 16 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 161 | 391 | -230 | 6 | 18 |
| 11 | Kenya Western Bulls | 16 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 102 | 403 | -301 | -13 | -5 |
| 12 | Kenya Kisumu | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 58 | 600 | -542 | -5 | -5 |
2020 Enterprise Cup
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kabras RFC | 47 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Menengai Oilers | 19 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kabras | 54 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Mwamba | 10 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Mwamba RFC | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Kisumu RFC | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Kabras | |||||||||||||||||||
| Homeboyz | |||||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Harlequin | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Homeboyz | 39 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Homeboyz | 33 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Nondescripts | 11 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Nondescripts | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Masinde Muliro | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Impala Saracens | 41 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Mean Machine | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Impala Saracens | 39 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | Nakuru | 21 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Nakuru | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Mombasa | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| Impala Saracens | |||||||||||||||||||
| KCB | |||||||||||||||||||
| 13 | KCB | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Strathmore | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | KCB | 43 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Blak Blad | 12 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | Blak Blad | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Western Bulls | 0 |
2020 Mwamba Cup
| Round of 16 | Quarterfinals | Semifinals | Finals | ||||||||||||||||
| 1 | Kabras RFC | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 2 | Northern Suburbs | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 3 | Mwamba RFC | 48 | |||||||||||||||||
| 4 | Daystar Falcons | 24 | |||||||||||||||||
| 5 | Nakuru | 28 | |||||||||||||||||
| 6 | CUEA Monks | 0 | |||||||||||||||||
| 7 | Impala Saracens | 36 | |||||||||||||||||
| 8 | Swara | 16 | |||||||||||||||||
| 9 | Strathmore | 22 | |||||||||||||||||
| 10 | Nondescripts | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| 11 | Harlequin | 13 | |||||||||||||||||
| 12 | Shamas Foundation | 18 | |||||||||||||||||
| 13 | Homeboyz | 17 | |||||||||||||||||
| 14 | Menengai Oilers | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
| 15 | KCB | 27 | |||||||||||||||||
| 16 | Strathmore | 3 |
Colours and crest
The blue and yellow that are famous with the club is adopted from the club sponsor, Homeboyz Entertainment Limited. The current crest was remodeled in November 2015 and retained the Homeboyz logo and the blue and yellow colors.
The current kit is made by Samurai Sportswear. Homeboyz Entertainment was the primary kit sponsor from 2009 to 2015 with its brands H2O and HBR 103.5 FM featuring in front of their jersey. In the 2015/16 season, Menengai Cream took over as the primary kit sponsor featuring in front of the jersey until the 2018/19 season.
Squad
Coaching and management staff
| Position | Name | Nationality |
|---|---|---|
| Backs and skills coach | Simon Odongo | Kenya |
| Forwards coach | Elisha Okello | Kenya |
| Strength & conditioning coach | Michael Mulugu | Kenya |
| Assistant team manager | Edward Wekesa | Kenya |
| Logistics manager | Spencer Githinji | Kenya |
| Lead physiotherapist | Samuel Ochieng | Kenya |
Current squad
| Homeboyz Rugby's current squad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Props KenyaThomas Okidia KenyaAbel Matanda KenyaMeshack Akenga KenyaElfas Etemesi KenyaJoseph Amalemba KenyaJohn Gichuhi Hookers KenyaAaron Khalechi KenyaBruce Shiemi KenyaUyn Omaya Locks KenyaPolycap Odhiambo KenyaWallace Onyango KenyaEmmanuel Silungi KenyaRoy Wesonga c KenyaMalcom Oketch KenyaDouglas Opani | Back row KenyaStanley Isogol KenyaLevis Ochieng KenyaReinhard Ngaira KenyaPaul Akatch KenyaElijah Nganga KenyaPhilbert Mwanzo KenyaBrian Kitiva KenyaKeith Wasike Scrum-halves KenyaMohammed Omollo KenyaLugonzo Ligamy KenyaMichael Nyakundi Fly-halves KenyaHenry Ayah KenyaArnold Onzere KenyaKelvin Masai | Centres KenyaMaxwell Kangeri KenyaBob Muhati KenyaJan Remke KenyaJeffrey Oluoch KenyaZeden Marrow c KenyaNelson Sangurah Wingers KenyaLeonard Mugaisi KenyaAlvin Otieno KenyaBush Mwale KenyaCollins Shikoli KenyaVictor Odhiambo KenyaBryan Juma Fullbacks KenyaMichael Wanjala KenyaBrian Ayimba KenyaAmon Wamalwa |
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes players who have represented the national Under 20, 7's or 15's team. |
Academy squad
| Homeboyz Rugby's Academy Squad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Props KenyaAlbert Kinyanjui KenyaHector Muindi KenyaKennedy Mutuku KenyaKisise Okeyo Hookers KenyaBevon Mutuma KenyaMike Munene Locks KenyaPatrick Mwakina KenyaEric Bwayo KenyaFelix Ouma | Back row KenyaJesse Mugonyi KenyaIsaac Akali KenyaCharles Omulakho Scrum-halves KenyaSimon Gathii KenyaEmmanuel Osundwa Fly-halves KenyaEric Ogutu | Centres KenyaAlvin Wanjala KenyaJoseph Kilozo KenyaGeorge Mogusu Wingers KenyaVictor Shigoli KenyaTom Ojango KenyaKelvin Agwambo KenyaJohn Ochar KenyaPius Odera Fullbacks KenyaSolomon Maleu |
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes players who have represented the national Under 20, 7's or 15's team |
Women's squad
| Homeboyz Rugby Women's Squad | ||
|---|---|---|
| Props KenyaMillicent Opalla KenyaMercy Migongo Hookers KenyaPeris Kagendo Locks KenyaNamariq Musa KenyaEnid Ouma KenyaEmmaculate Awuor | Back row KenyaSophie Aiyeta KenyaJanet Awuor Awino KenyaLeah Njogu KenyaSheila Atanyi KenyaShariffa Chiringa Scrum-halves KenyaNaomi Asungu KenyaIrene Awino Otieno KenyaEunice Momanyi Fly-halves KenyaDorcas Sinaida | Centres KenyaSheila Kavugwe Chajira c KenyaCynthia Camilla Wingers KenyaVeronica Oile KenyaEdith Sally KenyaLinet Arasa KenyaSalome Mwelu KenyaValentine Akinyi KenyaJoy Mitchell Fullbacks KenyaAmollo Ong'ombe |
| (c) denotes the team captain, Bold denotes players who have represented the national Lionesses team either at 7's, 15's or both |
Coaches
Homeboyz were coached in their first season by Eric Situma, who was assisted by Paul Murunga. Situma was replaced by Murunga in 2011 who had several assistants that included Benjamin Ayimba, Bill Githinji, and former Homeboyz players Elisha Okello and Simon Odongo. Murunga continued as coach until he was appointed Kenya Sevens coach after the 2017 season. Simon Odongo took over the reins for the 2018 season and didn't have an assistant during that time. In 2019, Sharks Academy coach, Jason Hector, was announced as the Homeboyz head coach. Jason was assisted by Simon Odongo in the season that was canceled owing to the COVID-19 pandemic. Jason was appointed head coach of the Western Province Rugby Academy Claremont Campus for the 2021 season.
Current coaches
- Simon Odongo (Backs)
- Elisha Okello (Forwards)
Former coaches
| Coach | Season(s) |
|---|---|
| Kenya Eric Situma | 2009/10 – 2010/11 |
| Kenya Paul Murunga | 2011/12 - 2016/17 |
| Kenya Simon Odongo | 2017/18 – 2018/19 |
| South Africa Jason Hector | 2019/20 – 2020 |
Notable players
Olympians
The following Homeboyz players represented Kenya at the 2020 Summer Olympics:
The following Homeboyz players represented Kenya at the 2016 Summer Olympics:
- Oscar Ayodi
- Bush Mwale
- Lugonzo Ligamy
- Sheila Kavugwe Chajira
- Janet Awuor Awino
- Irene Awino Otieno
- Linet Arasa
- Rachael Adhiambo Mbogo
Singapore Sevens winners
The following Homeboyz players were part of the team that won the 2016 Singapore Sevens:
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The following Homeboyz players have represented Kenya at the Rugby World Cup Sevens:
- Michael Wanjala (2013)
- Oscar Ayodi (2018)
- Jeff Oluoch (2018)
Commonwealth Games
The following Homeboyz players have represented Kenya at the Commonwealth Games:
- Michael Wanjala (2014)
- Oscar Ayodi (2018)
- Jeff Oluoch (2018)
Youth Olympians
The following Homeboyz players were part of the Kenya Under 19 team that took part in the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics:
- Brian Songoi
- Nelson Sangura
- Brian Gisemba
- John Ochar
- Keith Wasike
- Daniel Abuonji
- Lamech Kimutai
- Ian Omondi
Overseas players
Note: Flags indicate national union as has been defined under World Rugby eligibility rules.