Bankers Dissolve Kabras Sugar in Embu
For the third time in five legs this season, the SportPesa National 7s Circuit's heavyweight rivals KCB Rugby 7s and Kabras Sugar 7s collided in a cup final, with the Bankers edging out their bitter rivals 12–10 to lift the Embu 7s title, the penultimate leg of the 2026 season.
Tries from Shujaa forward Vincent Onyala and Emmanuel Opondo did the damage for KCB, who held off a spirited fightback from Kabras, whose own tries through Michael Lukusi and Griffin Chao kept the contest edgy until the closing stages.
The win takes defending champions KCB to 98 points in the overall series standings, six clear of Kabras heading into the season finale.
The final capped a dominant week for both sides, who had swept aside all comers through the group and knockout stages before setting up their latest showdown.
Margins are tight for Kabras heading into the finale
For Kabras, the road to the overall title has narrowed considerably.
Sitting six points adrift of KCB heading into Nairobi, Kabras will need to win the season finale outright and hope that KCB slip no higher than third place there.
It is a tall order that leaves the destiny of this season's title firmly, though not entirely, in the hands of KCB who are the reigning champions at Christie.
Defending champions Strathmore Leos fall at the group stage
With defending champions Strathmore Leos knocked out at the group stages, the Embu 7s title was guaranteed to have a new name on it. That opened the door for the circuit's two dominant sides this season to rise to the podium, KCB avenging the defeat they suffered in Driftwood a fortnight ago.
Oilers claim third, KU Blak Blad edge Harlequins for 5th
In the placement matches, Menengai Oilers bounced back from their 22-5 semi-final defeat to Kabras, overwhelming Daystar Falcons 29–7 in the third-place playoff — the third time this season Oilers have finished on the podium's bottom step.
Further down the standings, KU Blak Blad edged Christie 7s hosts Kenya Harlequins 17–14 to claim 5th place, with Harlequins settling for 6th.
Cash rewards for Embu 7s podium finishers
As with every leg on the circuit, cash rewards accompanied the results in Embu. Cup champions KCB Rugby 7s walked away with KES 150,000, with runners-up Kabras Sugar 7s collecting KES 75,000.
Third-placed Menengai Oilers, completing the podium with their win over Daystar, took home KES 40,000.
With one leg to go, SportPesa says the title race is wide open.
Speaking after the Embu 7s, SportPesa Head of PR Willis Ojwang said the circuit was entering its final stretch with everything still to play for.
"We're within sight of the finish line, and KCB have made a real statement by taking a stranglehold at the top of the overall standings with this Embu win.
But this season has taught us not to call anything until the final whistle blows at Christie 7s — Kabras have pushed them all the way in three finals now, and Oilers' consistency on the podium shows the chasing pack isn't done either," said Ojwang.
"Every shilling we put on the table, from the KES 150,000 on offer for the Cup winners down to the podium rewards, is our way of backing that competitiveness.
The overall series title and plenty of pride are still up for grabs, and we want every team walking onto that pitch in Kenya Harlequins' backyard knowing this one counts," he added.