The 2026 Regional Under-18 and Under-16 Trials for both boys and girls got underway over the weekend, with the Nairobi Region becoming the first to host the talent identification programme as Kenya Rugby Union continues to strengthen its age-grade development pathway.
Held on Saturday, the Nairobi regional trials marked a significant milestone in the nationwide exercise, which will be rolled out across all regions. The programme is aimed at identifying the country's top young rugby talent, with successful players earning selection into their respective regional teams ahead of the next phase of the development programme.
The Nairobi trials attracted an impressive 230 participants, highlighting the growing interest in age-grade rugby. Of particular significance was the overwhelming number of girls in attendance, reflecting the continued growth of the women's game and the increasing opportunities available for young female athletes across the country.
The talent identification exercise forms part of a broader initiative to assemble competitive regional teams that will later compete against one another, providing players with an opportunity to showcase their abilities on a bigger stage while strengthening Kenya's player development pathway.
The trials continued on Sunday, with international schools taking part in their own selection exercise, further broadening the talent pool and ensuring that players from different rugby programmes are given an equal opportunity to earn regional selection.
