Dodoma, Tanzania. April 1959…
Following an enjoyable North v South match for the Cameron Cup at Dodoma, Tanzania, the usual post-match dissection of the game in the clubhouse resulted in an idea to establish a touring side. the idea found ready support and soon “The Scorpions” was a new name in the story of rugby football in East Africa. Taking the famous touring team the Barbarians F.C as a model, it was agreed membership would be open only by invitation to rugby players through East Africa who were prepared to uphold the teams values and the best traditions of the game on and off the field. The venture received the blessing of the East African Rugby Union and the Scorpions were born.
This touring side had a simple intention; to allow players to play high quality rugby that would otherwise be unavailable to them. The very first tour in 1959 saw them play four entertaining fixtures against different clubs in Kenya (Nondescripts RFC, Kitale Rugby Club, Nakuru Athletic Club and Kenya Harlequins). The huge success of that tour led to a second tour of Uganda in 1960 and from that point on, tours occurred in a variety of countries.
As time moved on, the team began to base themselves in Kenya. In the 1970’s, the club began to play all their games in Nairobi at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) Ground. This move allowed them to attract touring sides from all over the world to come to play against the famous Scorpions.
Between 1959 and 1992, the Scorpions played against travelling teams from South Africa (Pretoria Harlequins), Ireland (Blackrock College RFC, Queens University Belfast), Italy (Rugby Roma Olimpic), Argentina (Old Georgians), France (RC Granvillais) and England (Anti-Assassins, Middlesex, British Army, Rosslyn Park, Richmond, Harlequins, Wasps, Sherborne and Blackheath).
Notable players have included…
Ted Kabetu (the first black player to be selected to represent East Africa) Bill Okwirry, Chris Onsotti and Dick Greenwood who played for England (1966-69) and then coached England (1983-85).
With no clubhouse…
And membership by invitation only, the club could concentrate on stimulating interest in the sport by cementing a tradition of exciting rugby played to the highest possible standards and promoting the unique spirit of the sport of Rugby
Unfortunately, after 1992, upon the advent of professional rugby globally and along many other great touring sides of the amateur era, the Scorpions fell away from prominence. That is until 2020, when after almost 30 years in hibernation, the Scorpions were resurrected. Now it is time for a new chapter in the Scorpions illustrious history.