Kenya Harlequin F.C.

Kenya Harlequin F.C.
Full name Kenya Harlequin Football Club
Union Kenya Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s) Quins, Kenya Quins
Founded 1951
Location Nairobi, Kenya
Region Nairobi Province
Ground(s) RFUEA Ground (Capacity: 6,000)
Chairman Kenya Edward Kingany'
Coach(es) Kenya Enos Otieno
Captain(s) Kenya Patrice Agunda
League(s) Kenya Cup
2009/2010 1st
Team kit

The Kenya Harlequin Football Club (Harlequins or Quins for short) is a Kenyan rugby union team who play at the top level of Kenyan rugby, they are holders of the 2010 Kenya Cup and 2010 Enterprise Cup. Harlequin players make up the vast majority of the 2011 Kenya national rugby union team.[1] 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 colours and striking patterns. Nondescripts are still going strong, 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.[2][3]

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 Nondescripts RFC, Old Cambrians RFC, the Nairobi Railway Club RFC, Kenya Civil Service RFC, Kenya Police RFC, Nairobi Garrison RFC and Royal Air Force RFC. The idea was put forward by Peter Barron (later to become the club's first honorary secretary) and Ben Cook. The idea was received by Mr. D. M. Goldstein (then honorary secretary to the RFU-K) and Mr. John Parry. The club was formed in 1952 and immediately sought affiliation with the London Harlequin F.C. in England. The committee contacted the London club to ask whether Harlequin badges could be sewn onto the shirts, however due to a misunderstanding only one badge was sent, which was sewn to the Captains shirt for the first game.

Affiliation

The affiliation gives the club the right to wear the London club colours (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 Colours in diamonds around the tops), the honour extending not only to the playing kit, but to all uses of colours and insignia including the blazer badge, tie and honours caps. This honour had only been granted to three other clubs prior to this, Pretoria Harlequins (South Africa, founded in 1906), Melbourne Harlequins (Australia, founded in 1928, affiliated 1948[4] and Hamilton Harlequins (New Zealand founded in 1938).[5]

Though the Hobart Harlequins (Tasmania, Australia) were formed in 1934 they did not seek affiliation until much later,[6] making them the fifth member of the group. The sixth sister club was the Dallas Harlequins (Texas, USA) who were formed in 1971 but not granted affiliation until 1983.[7] In 2004 the Future Hope Harlequins RFC of Kolkata, India were welcomed into the family[8] and the latest club that has been brought into the fold is the Abu Dhabi Harlequins in 2008;[9] Etihad being the mutual sponsor of this and the London club, were instrumental in bringing about the latter connection.

Nascent 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 travelled 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, Harlequin FC of London undertook a tour of East Africa in conjunction with Pretoria Harlequins from South Africa, as guests of the Kenya Harlequin F.C. and the Rugby Football Union of East Africa; winning five games and drawing one. This was the first time that three sister clubs of the Harlequin family all played each other in a coordinated series of matches and at 19 days it was the longest overseas tour undertaken by a British club up to that time.[10]

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.

Honours

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Current squad

Name 15's Honours 7's Honours
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

Sponsorship

Nivea for Men - through Beiersdorf Marketing (East Africa) - sponsored the club in 2009 with KSh4 million. This partnership was renewed for the 2010 season with a cheque for KSh6 million. The money will provide the team with kit, allow them to fulfil all of their 2010 fixtures and also cover the costs of the 2010 Christie Sevens; the Harlequins' annual seven-a-side tournament. Harlequins have also promised to adopt a school in order to promote the future development of rugby within Kenya. In return Nivea will receive advertising on the team's shirts and on semi-permanent hoardings around the Harlequins home ground, the RFUEA Ground in Nairobi.[11]

References

  1. ↑ Daily Nation
  2. ↑ Campbell (1960) pp92-93
  3. ↑ http://www.kenyarfu.com/KRFU%20DOCS/Kenya%20Rugby%20History%20Highlights.pdf
  4. ↑ Baxter, Mark (2006). Quins Down Under 1928-2004. The Harlequin Club, Inc.
  5. ↑ http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s98/st45898.htm?print=1
  6. ↑ http://www.harlequins.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=33&Itemid=39
  7. ↑ http://www.quins.com/club.asp
  8. ↑ http://www.rugbynetwork.net/main/s98/st101116.htm
  9. ↑ http://www.thenational.ae/article/20080612/SPORT/604138939/1043/NEWS
  10. ↑ Harlequin F.C
  11. ↑ http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=2000002895&cid=3&
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