The 2021 edition of the Elgon Cup has been postponed, Uganda Rugby Union (URU) announced on Wednesday via a social media missive. 2020 edition wasn’t held as well due to Covid-19 disruptions.
“Due to the escalating number of Covid-19 infections, the Elgon Cup that was scheduled for 26th June 2021 has been postponed. The decision was made in consultation with Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and a new date will be communicated in due course,” URU said in a missive.
The Elgon Cup is a two-legged competition played on home and away basis between Uganda and Kenya Rugby XVs sides, with the men’s sides being a main stay at the event with ladies showing up in the previous edition (2019) after a long hiatus.
The Elgon Cup is named after Mount Elgon, a mountain on the border of Kenya and Uganda, and is the trophy given to the winner of a rugby XVs match contested between the Kenya and Uganda men’s and women’s national teams on an annual basis. The winner on aggregate walks away with the prestigious trophy.
Kenyan sides are the title holders of the Elgon Cup.
The Kenya women’s team (Lionesses) defeated Uganda (Lady Rugby Cranes) 44-13 in the first leg of the Elgon Cup which was played in Kisumu, Kenya on 22 June, 2019 and they did the double over Uganda with a 5-35 victory in Kampala on 13 July.
On the same above respective days and venues, Uganda men’s side, Rugby Cranes beat Kenyan side Simbas 16-13 in the first leg but the latter emerged overall aggregate winners after winning the second leg 16-05 to retain the title.
Ever since its inception in 2004, the Elgon Cup has been played at several stadiums throughout Kenya and Uganda through the years, however the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi and the Kyadondo RFC and Legends RC grounds in Kampala are the usual venues where the Elgon Cup is played.
