Blak Blad Rugby Football Club has entered a Ksh1 million partnership with Madison Life Assurance, aiming to strengthen their campaign for the National Sevens Circuit title.

The announcement comes just days before the 37th Kabeberi Sevens scheduled for August 15-16 at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi. This tournament is the third leg of the 2026 National Sevens Circuit.

So far this season, Blak Blad has placed sixth at the Prinsloo Sevens and ninth at the Dala Sevens. The team is now targeting a stronger performance at Kabeberi.

Partnership Benefits

  • Provision of quality equipment and medical supplies
  • Medical insurance cover for players
  • Long-term collaboration plans underway

Madison Life Assurance Managing Director Githua Ngaruiya expressed enthusiasm about the partnership, highlighting the company’s commitment to supporting young athletes and enabling them to compete without financial worries.

“At Madison, our logo is ‘Life without worry,’ so we want the boys to play without worry,” Ngaruiya said.

Team Ambitions and Challenges

Blak Blad captain Obat Kuke emphasized the importance of corporate backing for consistent performance and player retention, acknowledging past difficulties operating without sponsorship.

“It's quite challenging for a team to work without some corporate sponsorship and I'm grateful that with this, I know we'll achieve more,” Kuke noted.

The university side’s best result in the National Sevens Circuit remains a third-place finish at the 2024 Driftwood Sevens in Mombasa. This season, the team aims to win at least one leg of the circuit.

Drawn in Pool C alongside Menengai Oilers, Zetech Oaks, and Mombasa RFC, Blak Blad has used the interval between tournaments to address weaknesses and prepare rigorously for Kabeberi.

“With the work that we've put in during the break and this sponsorship coming in time, I know that now Kabeberi is the leg that we are going for,” Kuke said.

Looking Ahead

Beyond immediate competition, the partnership is expected to help Blak Blad improve player recruitment and retention, especially with the university’s September intake on the horizon.

Madison Life Assurance also encourages players to plan their financial futures early and calls on other Kenyan companies to support local sports talent.

With enhanced resources and welfare support, Blak Blad enters the upcoming Kabeberi Sevens poised to translate off-field stability into on-field success.