Kenya Harlequin F.C.
Kenya Rugby Football Union | ||
Nickname(s) | Quins, Kenya Quins | |
---|---|---|
Founded | 1951 | |
Location | Nairobi, Kenya | |
Region | Nairobi | |
Ground(s) | RFUEA Ground (Capacity: 6,000) | |
Chairman | Mike Harry Lucas | |
Coach(es) | Antoine Plasman | |
Captain(s) | Patrice Agunda | |
League(s) | Kenya Cup | |
2017/2018 | 5th | |
|
Kenya Harlequin Football Club, (Harlequins or Quins for short) is a Kenyan rugby union club that competes in the Kenya Cup, the top level of Kenyan rugby. The club motto "Nunquam Dormio" is Latin, meaning I never sleep.
History
There was an earlier Harlequins R.F.C. in Nairobi which was formed in 1923 when the Nairobi District team decided, because it had become too powerful, to split and create two clubs, Harlequins RFC and Nondescripts RFC. It seems likely that the two names were chosen either in concert or one as a tongue-in-cheek response to the other as nondescript means lacking distinctive or interesting features or characteristics whilst harlequins are associated with bright colors and striking patterns. Nondescripts RFC is still in existence, but this first Harlequin club lasted up to 1945. Photos exist of Harlequins playing against the Prince of Wales School during the war years. The current Harlequin F.C. did not (contrary to popular belief) rise phoenix-like from the ashes of the first, though it is logical to assume that it provided the inspiration for the name.[1][2]
Formation of the Club
The Kenya Harlequin F.C. was formed when, in 1951, a group of enthusiasts decided that there were enough players in and around the capital to allow the formation of another team; teams already in existence in the capital at this time included
Affiliation
The affiliation gives the club the right to wear the London club colors (namely: - light blue, magenta, chocolate, French grey, reversed on the back, sleeves light green and black reversed, white shorts and dark stockings with the club colors in diamonds around the tops), the honor extending not only to the playing kit, but to all uses of colors and insignia including the blazer badge, tie and honors caps. This honor had only been granted to three other clubs prior to this,
Though the
Beginnings
The Kenya Harlequins won their very first match which was played in April 1952 against the Nairobi Railway Club RFC; they completed their first full competitive season that same year and by 1953 there were enough playing members for the club to field two teams. The club won the Nakuru Sevens in 1953 and its first Nairobi District Championship (NDC) in 1954; by the 1954 season the club had defeated at least once every club they had met and had traveled a total of 2,130 miles that year to fulfill their fixtures. The club's record for the 1954 season is as follows:
Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
First XV | 13 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 251 | 42 |
'A' XV | 9 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 151 | 48 |
TOTAL | 22 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 402 | 90 |
The club shared the NDC title in 1955, 1956 and 1958 they won the Enterprise Cup in 1955 and 1957 and were runners up the intervening year. By 1960 they had made two visits to Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and had toured Uganda. Much of this early success was due to Hugh Steel, John Tanner and Owen Wheeler (a Scottish trialist with two English county caps).
In 1961,
Recent Outgoing Tours
Kenya Harlequin undertook a tour of the UK and Ireland in 1986 and three tours to South Africa in 1996, 1999 and 2001 as guests of Pretoria Harlequins. Zimbabwe and Uganda were the destinations in 2003 while the under 21 side has visited Tanzania on an annual basis since 2002, hosted by the Dar es Salaam Leopards RFC.
Honors
- 1953 – Nakuru Sevens Cup
- 1954 – Nairobi District Championship
- 1955 – Enterprise Cup & Nairobi District Championship (Shared)
- 1957 – Enterprise Cup & Nairobi District Championship (Shared)
- 1959 – Nairobi District Championship (Shared)
- –
- 1964 – Enterprise Cup
- –
- 1995 – Kenya Cup & Enterprise Cup
- 1996 – Kenya Cup, Enterprise Cup (Shared with Nondescripts RFC), Eric Shirley Shield & Nakuru Tens Cup
- 1997 – Kenya Cup & Impala Floodlit Tournament Cup
- 1999 – Kenya Cup, Enterprise Cup & Kenya National Sevens Circuit Champions
- 2003 – Cup
- 2004 – Driftwood Sevens Cup
- 2008 – Kenya Cup
- 2009 – Enterprise Cup, Eric Shirley Shield (Second XV)
- 2010 – Kenya Cup
- 2011 – Kenya Cup & Enterprise Cup
- 2012 – Kenya Cup
Current squad
Name | 15's Honors | 7's Honors |
---|---|---|
Peter Abuoga | Kenya | Shujaa |
Edwin Achayo | Kenya | |
Isaac Adimo | Kenya | |
Leon Adongo | Kenya | |
Patrice Agunda | Kenya | Shujaa |
David Ambunya | Kenya | |
Willy Ambaka | Kenya | |
Sidney Ashioya | Kenya | Kenya |
Felix Ayange | Kenya | |
Naftali Bondo | Shujaa | |
James Kangethe | Kenya | |
Joe Kangethe | Kenya | |
Daniel Kiptoo | Kenya | |
Wilson Kopondo | Kenya | Kenya |
David Mogere | Kenya | |
Tony Mutai | Kenya | |
Joel Nganga | Kenya | |
Vincent Ongera | Kenya | |
Allan Onyango | Kenya | Shujaa |
Chris Oduor | Kenya 'A' | |
Victor Oduor | Kenya | |
Jared Owinyo | Kenya | |
Kevin Okeyo | ||
Leroy Anyembe | ||
Max Theuri | Kenya | |
Victor Sudi | Kenya | Kenya |
Allan Omuka | Kenya |
References
- Campbell, M; Cohen, E.J. (1960). Rugby Football in East Africa 1909-1959. Rugby Football Union of East Africa.
- ^ Campbell (1960) pp92-93
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-02-04. Retrieved 2016-02-04.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Baxter, Mark (2006). Quins Down Under 1928-2004. The Harlequin Club, Inc.
- ^ "ComeAllWithin.co.uk - Overseas Relations".
- ^ "harlequins.com.au". www.harlequins.com.au. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2006-09-08. Retrieved 2006-08-22.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "ComeAllWithin.co.uk - Future Hope Harlequins". www.rugbynetwork.net. Retrieved 2021-10-15.
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-05-22. Retrieved 2010-07-28.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Harlequin F.C