The Elgon Cup is an annual rugby union competition between Kenya and Uganda, with the first match held in 2004 but originating from a 1960`s regional rivalry.It is named after the iconic Mt.Elgon that sits on the boarder of Kenya and Uganda.First played in Nairobi in 2004 as a friendly match,the tournament grew through the years becoming an annual event.
The tournament is aimed at promoting rugby development in East Africa and fostering the Kenya Uganda relationship.It additionally prepares the teams for international competitions and fosters the rivalry between the two teams.The games are played in a home and away format where the winner is determined by aggregate points.Recent developments have seen the tournament grow to include the women`s category as well as the under twenty category.A major improvement is that it has also been slotted in the Rugby Africa`s calendar.
Out of the seventeen tournaments played ,Kenya has managed to win ten times while Uganda has won seven times.The competition is recognised by world rugby and the outcomes are considered when calculating the world rankings.With Kenya currently ranked at position 32 with 52.55 points, while Uganda’s Rugby Cranes occupy 40th position with 47.84 points.
Here’s how the rankings can change:
Ranking Points: The winning team earns points based on the match result, opponent’s ranking, and margin of victory.
Ranking Movement: Accumulated points can lead to improvements or declines in the teams’ rankings.
This year the first leg will be held in Nairobi at the RFUEA grounds on the 9th November 2024 while the second leg will be held in Kampala Uganda on 16th November.
