Rugby thrills in Dar as Les Gaulois beat Leopards in friendly
Players from Dar es Salaam’s premier rugby club, Dar Leopards RFC, and Les Gaulois de Nairobi pose for a group photo after their international friendly match held on Saturday at the University of Dar es Salaam grounds. PHOTO | COURTESY
What you need to know:
The event kicked off with a women’s contact rugby showcase featuring the Dar Cheetahs, the Leopards’ women’s contact side
Dar es Salaam. Dar es Salaam’s premier rugby club, Dar Leopards RFC, hosted Les Gaulois de Nairobi last Saturday at the University of Dar es Salaam grounds in a tightly contested international fixture, marking another milestone in the growing momentum of rugby in Tanzania.
The event kicked off with a women’s contact rugby showcase featuring the Dar Cheetahs, the Leopards’ women’s contact side.
The Dar Leopards are a rapidly developing team gaining strength and visibility and are eager to participate in more competitive fixtures in the near future.
The main match was not only a brilliant display of international rugby but also a fantastic spectator event, drawing hundreds of fans to the venue.
The atmosphere was electric, with supporters enjoying an afternoon of top-class sport, refreshments, and a vibrant rugby community spirit.
The final score was 46-7 in favour of Nairobi’s Les Gaulois, with Dan Kagwa named Player of the Match after delivering an outstanding performance.
This fixture was the latest in a series of international games for Dar Leopards RFC, reflecting the sport’s rising profile and development in Tanzania.
Dar Leopards RFC Chairman Gustav Mphusu expressed his pride in hosting the fixture, which he said had strengthened the relationship between the two teams and further promoted rugby in the country.
“We are very happy to host Nairobi’s Les Gaulois here in Tanzania. They gave us a great challenge.
The Leopards were outplayed by a physical and well-drilled side. It was a good game to watch, but Les Gaulois play together more frequently and were the better team on the day,” said Mphusu.
He also revealed that discussions are already underway to arrange a return leg in Nairobi next year.
The match was made possible through the generous support of Principal Sponsor Clyde & Co., the only international law firm with seven fully integrated offices across Africa.
“We are proud of our commitment to the sport and the community at large. We witnessed a thrilling encounter, and the fans got exactly what they deserved,” said Peter Kasanda, Head of Africa for Clyde & Co. The firm has supported Dar Leopards RFC and Tanzanian rugby since 2012.
Additional valued support came from OLEA East Africa Insurance, the French Embassy in Tanzania, The Slow Leopard, Painted Dog Craft Gin, Tanzania Breweries Limited, Pepsi, Gardaworld, and Gallagher Animal Management.
Dar Leopards RFC extend heartfelt thanks to all these organisations — the match would not have been possible without their continued support.
The club’s next major event is the Annual Touch Rugby Tournament, set to take place at the Gymkhana Club on 13th September 2025.
All spectators are warmly welcome to attend what promises to be another fantastic day of rugby and community spirit.
