The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Board has announced a comprehensive agenda aimed at strengthening rugby development structures and enhancing governance across the sport.

The new leadership is prioritizing the professionalization of rugby, nurturing young talent, and reinforcing governance from the grassroots to the national level.

A centerpiece of these reforms is the proposal to scrap the long-standing Eric Shirley Shield (ESS) league, replacing it with a dynamic Under-20 league exclusively involving Kenya Cup clubs.

According to KRU Director Mukabane, “The intended change of the ESS format to an under 20 league played by Kenya Cup clubs only, not only allows us to rebrand the said league but aligns to KRU’s development pathway and international competition standards.” Under the new structure, the Under-20 league will run concurrently with Kenya Cup fixtures.

Teams will be allowed to include five over-age players in their match-day squads, with a maximum of three on the field at any one time.

These over-age players, mainly those returning from injury, will be restricted to three consecutive matches.

Mukabane emphasized that the move is designed to build on the recent strong performances by Kenya’s youth teams, stating, “Chipu’s strong performance has placed Kenya on the global rugby map. We must now strengthen this momentum by giving this age bracket consistent game time.”

The ESS, established in 1962 as a second-tier competition, has been a fixture in Kenya’s rugby calendar. However, the KRU Board believes that transitioning to an Under-20 league will better support the country’s evolving rugby ecosystem and talent pipeline.

In addition, the Union is finalizing an amended constitution aimed at reducing the concentration of power in the Chairperson’s office and devolving key responsibilities to regional heads.

“We are very keen on promoting equity and broader accountability across the sport. We believe with the new constitution we will be able to achieve all these,” Mukabane added.

The board also confirmed the resignation of former Chairman Alexander “Sasha” Mutai, extending their appreciation for his service and wishing him well in his future endeavors.

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