# East Africa rugby union team

Established in 1950, the East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania; however, the vast majority of these came from Kenya, which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in the region. The team has played against incoming international, representative and club touring sides and it conducted seven tours between 1954 and 1982.
Though East Africa do play under the Tuskers nickname, it is used exclusively when they are on tour; for all matches played at home they are referred to as East Africa. This tradition has come into being because the team had existed for five years by the time of the first external tour in 1954 when the touring side adopted the Tuskers moniker, as have all subsequent tours.
For 30 years, the team lay dormant, though the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) continued to exist as the governing body of rugby within the three countries, until (on 9 July 2011 at an event at the RFUEA Ground) the team was re-launched by Mwangi Muthee (Chairman of the Kenya Rugby Football Union), William Blick (President of the Uganda Rugby Union), George Kariuki (Rugby Football Union of East Africa) and John Lloyd (Rugby Patrons Society). The team played its first fixture in almost exactly 30 years against England Counties XV at the RFUEA grounds in early June 2012.

## Early history

The first union in British East Africa was the Rugby Football Union of Kenya (RFU-K), founded in August 1921; it was responsible for the administration of the game throughout Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika which it carried out through various district sub-unions throughout the region. Several universities and Royal Navy ships sent teams to tour East Africa during this period. The Combined South African Universities toured in 1929. In 1935, Danie Craven captained Stellenbosch University on a tour of the region; though none of these encounters included a match against a representative East Africa team.
The first representative team called East Africa are recorded facing the Cape Town University team that toured the region in late 1949 early 1950. Three matches were played in January 1950, East Africa losing each encounter. At this time, the East Africa team represented the colonies of British East Africa (Kenya Colony, Tanganyika and Uganda Protectorate) and the players were predominantly white settlers. (it was not until the 1960s that rugby's popularity spread and indigenous players started to take up the game; with time the East African team has seen a commensurate increase in the numbers of black players being selected).
In 1953, the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) was created in order to take over the mantle as the umbrella organisation for rugby in the region. The creation of the RFUEA allowed for the formation of the Tanganyika Rugby Football Union (TRFU) in 1954 and Uganda Rugby Football Union (URFU) in 1955. Each of these were essentially a sub-union of the RFUEA much as the district unions in Kenya were, so the RFU-K was dissolved in 1956 allowing the already existing district unions to deal directly with the RFUEA.
The formation of the RFUEA was just in time for the East Africa representative side's first tour, the First Tuskers Tour of the Copperbelt in 1954. It also gave the team slightly more official status though little, if anything, had changed with regard to the management of the team. Tuskers tours to the Copperbelt became somewhat of a tradition, six of the eight Tuskers tours have been to this rugby stronghold in southern Africa; a region that can provide an appropriate level of opposition and at a distance that does not strain the purse-strings of the players and unions alike. The only Tuskers tours not to the Copperbelt were toEngland (1966) and Ireland (1972).
A year after the first tour, East Africa faced the British Lions in the first game played at the recently constructed headquarters of East African rugby, the RFUEA Ground and during the next six years welcomed other touring sides from the United Kingdom and South Africa including the Barbarians and South Africa and several prestigious university and military teams.
The Second Tuskers Tour took place in 1962 and again East Africa's first game at home after returning from a tour was against the British Lions. Between 1963 and 1966 several clubs and universities toured East Africa and played against the full representative side including, in 1964, Wales. Tours from South Africa were no longer welcomed as Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda were participating in the boycott protesting the apartheid regime in that country.
In the six years between the Third (1966) and Fourth (1972) Tuskers tours, 15 high-profile clubs from the United Kingdom and the Irish Republic toured the region and played matches against East Africa, including Richmond FC, Blackheath FC, Harlequins FC and Blackrock College RFC, several touring twice in those years so enamoured were they by the region and their welcome. The fixtures played by East Africa at this time demonstrate clearly that outgoing tours create contacts and the desire amongst foreign clubs to come to East Africa and the converse also, incoming tours then generate invitations to conduct external visits.
After the fifth Tuskers tour, there was only one more British club to visit East Africa because the Rugby Football Union refused to participate in the anti-apartheid boycott of South Africa, as a result clubs administered by the RFU were no longer welcome. It is during this period that East Africa saw an increase in touring sides from France (including ACBB, Club Sportif Municipal (CSM) Clamart and ASCO ONERA), Italy (Including Rugby Roma Olimpic), Argentina (Old Georgians and various islands in the Indian Ocean (Réunion and Mauritius).

## Major Internationals

When the British Lions went to South Africa for their 1955 and 1962 tours, they played East Africa in Nairobi on the return legs of their journeys. The Lions won both of these games, 39-12 and 50–0 respectively. The 1955 game was East Africa's first international and also saw the official opening of the team's home stadium, the RFUEA Ground, then called the Ngong Road Ground.
In 1958, East Africa hosted the Barbarians on their first tour of Africa. The Barbarians, managed by Brigadier Glyn Hughes and captained by Scotland's Jim Greenwood, took in six matches, the first five all played in South Africa, but the final match of the tour was against East Africa. The game was played on 28 May, with the Barbarians winning 58–12, Tony O'Reilly scoring seven tries.
East Africa would also play against South Africa in 1961 (losing 39–0), and Wales on their 1964 tour of Africa. Wales' game, held at the RFUEA Ground, Nairobi, on 12 May 1964, was the first time that they had played a match outside of Europe and therefore also their first in the Southern Hemisphere, albeit a mere hundred miles from the Equator. Wales won the match, 26–8.
Prior to the introduction of standard numbering systems, many teams would wear numbers (or in the case of Bristol RFC and Leicester FC, letters) in a different order to that known today. The first set of East African jerseys was numbered from fullback (1) to scrum-half (7) followed by looshead prop (8) to Number-8 (15). It must also be remembered that prior to the innovation, by Sherborne School, in the 1960s of using the hooker to throw the ball into the line-out, this was the job of the winger. Thus there are photos of East African matches with the unusual combination of a winger, numbered 2 or 5, throwing in to a line of eight forwards, numbered 8 to 15.

### British Lions 1955

Five and a half years after their first match against the University of Cape Town, East Africa played their first international match against the British Lions, as they returned home from their 1955 tour of South Africa.
The Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) took the opportunity of the 1955 match to invite the Lions manager (J.A.E. Siggins) to officially open their newly built national stadium, the RFUEA Ground (then called the Ngong Road Ground) prior to kick-off. The capacity crowd of 6000 was treated to a magnificent display of running handling rugby that had characterised the tourists' games in South Africa.
According to the match programme, East Africa fielded seven players who were winning their first cap, Brodziak, Chambers, Darroch, MacLean, Meintjes, Tippett and Wheeler. In addition East Africa selected two reserves and the Lions one; although substitutions were not allowed it was usual to select reserves at this time in case a player did not arrive on time or was unable to start the match. The match programme also states that Frank Sykes (Northampton & England), Robin Roe (Lansdowne & Ireland) and Tom Reid (Garryowen & Ireland) had been selected to play this match, but the Lions' archives suggest that ultimately they did not. It appears that the reserve Bryn Meredith and Billy Williams (who had been assigned as the Lions touch-judge) were called upon to start in place of Roe and R.H. Williams while D.G.S. Baker was required to fill in for Sykes. East Africa took the field as advertised in the programme.
One of the contemporary match reports was written by Tony Coxall, a 13-year-old pupil from Arusha School in Tanzania who attended the match as part of a school trip in which twenty boys undertook the five-and-a-half-hour, 170 miles (270 km) journey to Nairobi in a 1.5 ton lorry. In this report it is stated that the Lions scored two tries before East Africa answered with a penalty and that at half time the score was 6-19. It also states that the seats cost 1 shilling each and that the crowd were entertained by the band of the Royal Irish Fusiliers at half-time.
As was usual for touring teams visiting East Africa during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, the Lions were given private hospitality as opposed to staying in hotels. Cliff Morgan, Haydn Morris and Gareth Griffiths (all players with Cardiff RFC) stayed with Mr. and Mrs. Arthur "Pat" Bryant, who had played for Cardiff prior to World War I, and who was an official of the East African Rugby Union. He had refereed for the RFUEA (in his blue and black Cardiff jersey) until his retirement at about 63 years of age. The tourists also encountered another former Cardiff player from the 1940s, Captain Howell Loveluck who was in Kenya as chaplain to the British Forces stationed there at the time of the Mau Mau Uprising.
There is a frequently repeated urban legend that Idi Amin (later to become the infamous military dictator of Uganda) was selected as a replacement by East Africa for their match against the 1955 British Lions. The story is entirely unfounded, he does not appear on the team list or in the team photograph and replacements were first introduced into international rugby 13 years after this event is supposed to have taken place. Mike Gibson of Ireland is generally recognised as being the first ever replacement in a rugby union match (he came on for the injured Barry John during the first test in Pretoria on the 1968 British Lions tour to South Africa). The first replacement for East Africa was Douglas "Dougie" Hamilton who came on in the 1968 match versus Queen's University (Belfast) R.F.C.
Team Lists :
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | V. Fieros | Arusha RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| LW | 2 | D. Darroch | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| LC | 3 | D. Brodziak | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| RC | 4 | G.P. Meintjes | Eldoret RFC and Kenya Regiment | Kenya Colony |
| RW | 5 | E.A. Bristow | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| FH | 6 | R.H. Chambers | Tanga RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| SH | 7 | C. Kimmins | Gloucestershire Regiment | Kenya Colony |
| Forwards: |||||
| | 8 | W.W. Ingram | Londiani RFC | Kenya Colony |
| | 9 | J.D. Humphreys | Nondescripts RFC and Kenya Regiment | Kenya Colony |
| | 10 | R.J. Kavanagh | Dar-es-Salaam RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| | 11 | E. Evans | Londiani RFC | Kenya Colony |
| | 12 | A.I. McLean | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| | 13 | D.S. Reynolds | Uganda Kobs RFC and Kenya Regiment | Uganda Protectorate |
| | 14 | A.M. Tippett | Rifle Brigade | Kenya Colony |
| | 15 | P.J.F. Wheeler (c) | Cambridge and Londiani RFC | Kenya Colony |
| Reserves: |||||
| | 16 | H.C. Plough | Kenya Regiment and Mombasa RFC | Kenya Colony |
| | 17 | A. Thorpe | Kenya Police RFC and Eldoret RFC | Kenya Colony |
BRITISH LIONS :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | Doug G.S. Baker | Old Merchant Taylors' FC | England |
| LW | 23 | Arthur R. Smith | Cambridge University | Scotland |
| LC | 19 | James Patrick Quinn | New Brighton FC | England |
| RC | 34 | Gareth M. Griffiths | Cardiff RFC | Wales |
| RW | 18 | A. Cecil Pedlow | Queen's University RFC | Ireland |
| FH | 15 | Cliff I. Morgan | Cardiff RFC | Wales |
| SH | 9 | Trevor Lloyd | Maesteg RFC | Wales |
| Forwards: |||||
| | 28 | W.O.G. "Billy" Williams | Swansea RFC | Wales |
| | 11 | B.V. "Bryn" Meredith | Newport RFC | Wales |
| | 5 | Tom Elliot | Gala RFC | Scotland |
| | 30 | Rhys H. Williams | Llanelli RFC | Wales |
| | 14 | Ernie J.S. Michie | Aberdeen University RFC | Scotland |
| | 31 | D.S. "Tug" Wilson | Metropolitan Police RFC | England |
| | 26 | R.C.C. "Clem" Thomas | Swansea RFC | Wales |
| | 27 | Robin H. Thompson (c) | Instonians RFC | Ireland |

### Barbarian F.C. 1958

The Barbarians, managed by Brigadier HL Glyn-Hughes and H Waddell, had just completed a successful tour of South Africa and stopped off in Nairobi on their way home. Members of this team who had previously visited Nairobi with the 1955 Lions were RH Williams, AJF O'Reilly, REG Jeeps, HF McLeod, JT Greenwood, CI Morgan, AR Smith and AC Pedlow. RH Davies had previously toured with the 1957 Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities side.
The match was played before a capacity crowd in the late afternoon to early evening on a Wednesday; the papers reported that the colony's Legislative Council (Legco.) had adjourned early that day before cryptically referring to the Barbarian game later in the same paragraph by way of an oblique explanation. The visitors playing champagne rugby in the highest traditions of their club. Tony O'Reilly scored seven tries, no doubt making up for the fact that he had been injured and unable to play when he had come to Nairobi with the Lions three years earlier. East Africa's first try was scored by RN Angus of Kenya Harlequins, the first scored by East Africa on their Ngong Road ground.
Team Lists :
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | R.L. Morgan | Kenya Police RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| RW | 2 | H.A. Adams | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| OC | 3 | D.W. Marshall | Kenya Police RFC | Kenya Colony |
| IC | 4 | G.P. Meintjes | Eldoret RFC | Kenya Colony |
| LW | 5 | D. Darroch | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| FH | 6 | T.A. Tory | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| SH | 7 | L.P Murray | Moshi RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| LP | 8 | K. Duncan | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| HK | 9 | R.N. Angus | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| TP | 10 | J.J. Steel | Arusha RFC | Tanganyika Territory |
| LL | 11 | K.V. Oulton | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| RL | 12 | A.I. McLean (c) | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| OF | 13 | H.B. Isherwood | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| BF | 14 | D.B. Kennedy | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| N8 | 15 | E. Evans | Kitale RFC | Kenya Colony |
BARBARIANS :
| | | Player | Home Union |
| FB | 15 | Robin W.T. Chisholm | Scotland |
| RW | 14 | A.J.F. Tony O'Reilly | Ireland |
| OC | 13 | Brian J. Jones | Newport RFC |
| IC | 12 | Malcolm Thomas | Wales |
| LW | 11 | A. Cecil Pedlow | Ireland |
| FH | 10 | Cliff I. Morgan | Wales |
| SH | 9 | Gordon H. Waddell | Scotland |
| LP | 1 | Hugh F. McLeod | Scotland |
| HK | 2 | Norman Bruce | Scotland |
| TP | 3 | Ron Jacobs | England |
| LL | 4 | W.R.D. Roddy Evans | Wales |
| RL | 5 | Rhys H. Williams | Wales |
| BF | 6 | Haydn Morgan | Wales |
| OF | 7 | Stephen H. Wilcock | Oxford University RFC |
| N8 | 8 | Jim T. Greenwood (c) | Scotland |

### Springboks 1961

In 1960–1961, the Springboks undertook a four-month tour of the United Kingdom and France, winning all their 43 matches except for a 0–0 draw against France and a 6–0 defeat by the Barbarians at Cardiff in what is often inaccurately listed as the final match of that tour. They left London on Wednesday February 22 by air, landing in Nairobi for a four-day stopover in Kenya on their way back to Johannesburg and, on Saturday 25 February 1961, they played East Africa. This was the only meeting between these teams, quite possibly the first match between South Africa and another African "nation", but unequivocally the true last match of the tour.
The final score was 39–0, the half-time score having been 15–0 with South Africa piling on a further 21 points within a quarter of an hour of the beginning of the second half, though the flood gates were closed for the rest of the match with the Springboks then only scoring once more. Johannes "Hannes" Botha (a flanker) and Gideon "Giepie" Wentzel (a full-back) played out of position.
Team Lists :
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | R Sudbury | | |
| RW | 2 | Chris C. Young (c) | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| OC | 3 | B T Wigley | | |
| IC | 4 | A R Ward | | |
| LW | 5 | Nick G Patterson | Kericho RFC | Kenya Colony |
| FH | 6 | J R Rowland | | |
| SH | 7 | T I N "Tiny" Thomas | | |
| LP | 8 | G Thom Thorpe | Eldoret RFC | Kenya Colony |
| HK | 9 | F A Rob Bwye | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| TP | 10 | W S Baird | | |
| LL | 11 | D S "Lofty" Reynolds | Uganda Kobs RFC and Kenya Regiment | Uganda Protectorate |
| RL | 12 | C H Elphick | | |
| OF | 13 | B R Granville-Ross | Nondscripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| BF | 14 | F S Hewitt | | |
| N8 | 15 | H Kruger | Eldoret RFC | Kenya Colony |
SOUTH AFRICA :
| | | Player | Province | Home Union |
| FB | 15 | Johannes P F Botha | Northern Transvaal | South Africa |
| RW | 14 | Jan P Engelbrecht | Western Province | South Africa |
| OC | 13 | Gideon J Wentzel | Eastern Province | South Africa |
| IC | 12 | Alexander I Kirkpatrick | Free State | South Africa |
| LW | 11 | Ben-Piet van Zyl | Western Province | South Africa |
| FH | 10 | Keith Oxlee | Natal | South Africa |
| SH | 9 | Pieter-de-Waal Uys | Northern Transvaal | South Africa |
| LP | 1 | Stephanus P Kuhn | Transvaal | South Africa |
| HK | 2 | Robert Johns | Western Province | South Africa |
| TP | 3 | Johannes L Myburgh | Northern Transvaal | South Africa |
| LL | 4 | Avril S Malan (c) | Transvaal | South Africa |
| RL | 5 | Hendrik S van der Merwe | Northern Transvaal | South Africa |
| BF | 6 | Pieter J van Zyl | Boland | South Africa |
| OF | 7 | Douglas J Hopwood | Western Province | South Africa |
| N8 | 8 | Frederic C H du Preez | Northern Transvaal | South Africa |

### British Lions 1962

Almost exactly seven years after hosting the 1955 Lions, East Africa faced the Lions again on the same ground, this time as they were returning from their 1962 tour to South Africa. At half time the score was 0 – 29
Team Lists :
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | K. McGuinness | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| RW | 2 | W.R. Millar | Kericho RFC | Kenya Colony |
| OC | 3 | D. Atkinson | | |
| IC | 4 | J. Anderson | | |
| LW | 5 | G.N. Paterson | Kericho RFC | Kenya Colony |
| FH | 6 | Chris C. Young (c) | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| SH | 7 | K O'Byrne | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| LP | 8 | M. Watson | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya Colony |
| HK | 9 | R Bwye | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| TP | 10 | K Duncan | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| LL | 11 | Frank Lawson | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| RL | 12 | R.B. Laing | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya Colony |
| OF | 13 | D. Young | Nakuru RFC | Kenya Colony |
| BF | 14 | Mike Andrews | Impala RFC | Kenya Colony |
| N8 | 15 | D.S. Reynolds | Uganda Kobs RFC and Kenya Regiment | Uganda Protectorate |
BRITISH LIONS :
| | | Player | Home Union |
| FB | 15 | Tom Kiernan | Ireland |
| RW | 14 | Niall Brophy | Ireland |
| OC | 13 | Ken Jones | Wales |
| IC | 12 | John Dee | England |
| LW | 11 | Dewi Bebb | Wales |
| FH | 10 | Richard Sharp | England |
| SH | 9 | Tony O'Conner | Wales |
| LP | 1 | Kingsley Jones | Wales |
| HK | 2 | Hal Godwin | England |
| TP | 3 | David Rollo | Scotland |
| LL | 4 | Willie John McBride | Ireland |
| RL | 5 | Keith Rowlands | Wales |
| BF | 6 | Haydn Morgan | Wales |
| OF | 7 | Raymond Hunter | Ireland |
| N8 | 8 | Mike Campbell-Lamerton (c) | Scotland |

### Wales 1964

In 1964, the Welsh national team undertook their first overseas tour, a five-match tour of Africa. They left London on Sunday May 10 flying to Nairobi, arriving on Monday morning. They played their first ever match outside Europe (and thus their first match in the Southern Hemisphere) against East Africa on Tuesday May 12, winning 26–8, before flying to Cape Town on Wednesday.
Welsh captain Clive Rowlands dictated the patterns of play and orchestrated many of the fine Welsh moves. The Welsh tries were great efforts, especially Dewi Bebb's who snatched a chance from a lineout three yards from the line and dived over before the opposition could lay a finger on him. The East African team fought valiantly and often caused the visitors defence problems with strong surging runs; their star player was Eric Weaver a Welshman serving in Nairobi with the RAF, he had previously played professional football with Swindon town. The Welsh fly-half in this match (Marsden Young) had not been – and was not subsequently – capped by Wales. As this match was not regarded as a full test by the Welsh Union so this player does not appear on the List of Wales national rugby union players.
The remaining four matches of the tour were in South Africa, who were celebrating the 75th anniversary of the South African Rugby Board. The first of these was played on May 19 against Boland at Wellington which they won 17–6. The test-match against South Africa, played at King's Park, Durban on May 23, was lost 3–24. The final two games were played on May 27 and May 30 against Northern Transvaal at Pretoria (lost 9–22) and the Orange Free State at Bloemfontein (won 14–6).
It was the lack of success experienced by the team on this tour that is credited with sparking the Welsh Rugby Union into action, appointing their first national coach and reaping the rewards with their fabled teams of the 1970s.
Team Lists :
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 1 | W. Kennedy | Kenya Police RFC | Kenya |
| RW | 2 | T. Tory | Nondescripts RFC | Kenya |
| OC | 3 | C.J.C. Irvine | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya |
| IC | 4 | C.C. Young | Nakuru RFC | Kenya |
| LW | 5 | E. Weaver | RAF | Kenya |
| FH | 6 | B.K. McGuinness | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya |
| SH | 7 | K.F. O'Byrne | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya |
| LP | 8 | K.I. Duncan | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya |
| HK | 9 | F.A.R. Bwye | Impala RFC | Kenya |
| TP | 10 | B. Shorter | Impala RFC | Kenya |
| LL | 11 | D.S. Reynolds | Nakuru RFC | Kenya |
| RL | 12 | A. Russell | Dar es Salaam | Tanzania |
| OF | 13 | G. Barbour | Kitale RFC | Kenya |
| BF | 14 | R.B. Laing (c) | Kenya Harlequins | Kenya |
| N8 | 15 | Mike Andrews | Impala RFC | Kenya |
WALES :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 8 | G.T.R. Hodgson | Neath RFC | Wales |
| RW | 1 | D.I. Bebb | Swansea RFC | Wales |
| OC | 2 | Keith Bradshaw | Bridgend RFC | Wales |
| IC | 5 | S.J. Dawes | London Welsh | Wales |
| LW | 10 | D.K. Jones | London Welsh | Wales |
| FH | 24 | J.M. Young | Bridgend RFC | Wales |
| SH | 18 | D.C.T. Rowlands (c) | Pontypool RFC | Wales |
| LP | 23 | D. Williams | Ebbw Vale RFC | Wales |
| HK | 6 | Norman R. Gale | Llanelli RFC | Wales |
| TP | 3 | Len Cunningham | Aberavon RFC | Wales |
| LL | 15 | B.E.V. Price | Newport RFC | Wales |
| RL | 19 | Brian E. Thomas | Neath RFC | Wales |
| BF | 16 | G.J. Prothero | Bridgend RFC | Wales |
| OF | 12 | J. Mantle | Loughborough and Newport RFC | Wales |
| N8 | 7 | David John Hayward | Cardiff RFC | Wales |

## Tuskers tours

The Tuskers is the nickname of the East Africa rugby union team but it is used exclusively when they are on tour. In all matches played at home they are referred to as East Africa. By the time of the first Tuskers tour in 1954, East Africa had played three matches, all against the touring University of Cape Town team from South Africa, and the RFUEA badge had been adopted. When their first tour was being organised a few uncharitable nicknames were suggested for the team and thus the Tuskers moniker was quickly adopted and an appropriate emblem designed.

### First Tuskers Copperbelt Tour 1954

The idea of an East African rugby touring team was first broached while the Kenya athletics team was visiting the Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) in 1953. The manager of that team was Archie Evans, a member of the Nondescripts RFC in Nairobi and he was able to communicate this proposal to the fledgling Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA). The tour took several months to organise, the process being hindered by the postal delays between the RFUEA, the Northern Rhodesian Rugby Union and its subsidiary, the Northern Rhodesian Congo Border Rugby Union. It was eventually decided that the latter of these would host the tour and permissions were sought from the respective governing bodies (the South African Rugby Board for Rhodesia and the Rugby Football Union in London for East Africa).
The delays during the planning meant that there was no time to stage trials. Instead the recently played first ever match between Kenya and Tanganyika was used to select the majority of the players that were to go on the tour. Arrangements were finalised just two weeks before departure; unfortunately one of the best players East Africa ever produced, A.I. McLean, was unable to take part as the hastily arranged tour coincided with his wedding. Most of the organisational work had been carried out by C.F. Schermbrucker (acting President of the RFUEA), Owen Wheeler (Hon Secretary RFUEA) and Mr. R.E. Luyt who had previously lived and played rugby in the Copperbelt.
The team, managed by A.K. Fyfe and Andrew G. Clark, left by air from Nairobi West on 17 August 1954. Played 8 matches, won 7 and lost 1 (to the Copperbelt XV).
First Tuskers Squad :
| Player | | Position | Home union | Club | Notes |
| Fieros, Vic | 15 | Fullback | Tanganyika Territory | Arusha RFC | Played for Prince of Wales School, Natal University, Tanganyika (1954) and East Africa (1951) |
| Mabbs, M.R. | 14 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | Played for Christ's Hospital, Public School Wanderers and Old Blues RFC |
| Notley, Nigel D. | 14 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Army | Played for Blackheath F.C. and Devon |
| Bristow, Eddie A. | 11 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Nondescripts RFC | Played for King's Bruton, Durham University and Rosslyn Park F.C. |
| Millar, W.R. | 11 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Kenya Regiment | Also played for the Duke of York School |
| Grassie, D.M. | 13 | Outside centre | Kenya Colony | Army | Played for Perthshire Academicals |
| Walker, Des | 12 | Inside centre | Kenya Colony | Army | Also played for Durham University, Northumberland (1952) and Kenya (1954) |
| Todd, J.R. Jimmy (c) | 10 | Fly-half | Kenya Colony | Londiani RFC | Played for Queen's University (Belfast) R.F.C., Cambridge University LX Club, London Irish, East Africa (1950–51), and Kenya (1954) |
| Wheeler, O.G. | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | Played for Nuneaton RFC, Warwickshire County and captained Kenya (1954) |
| Valentine, R. John H. | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya Colony | Army | Played for London Scottish and captained Scottish Public Schools (1952) |
| Kavanagh, R. | 1 | Prop | Tanganyika Territory | Dar es Salaam RFC | Played for Birmingham RFC, Midland Counties XV, captained Coast Province (1953) and Tanganyika (1954) |
| Pollastri, R. | 3 | Prop | Kenya Colony | Nakuru | Played for West Kenya Province and Kenya (1954) |
| Richardson, T.E. | 2 | Hooker | Uganda Protectorate | Nile RFC | Captained Queens' College, Cambridge and capped for Army versus Royal Navy and France |
| Tanner, John W. | 2 | Hooker | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | Played for Clifton RFC, Waterloo R.F.C., Lancashire County XV and Kenya (1954) |
| Reynolds, D.S. Lofty | 4 | Lock | Kenya Colony | Kenya Regiment | Played for Cheltenham College |
| Edgecombe, G.J.B. | 4 | Lock | Kenya Colony | Army | Played for English Public Schools, London Irish, Barbarians and captained RMA Sandhurst |
| Coughlan, Charles J. (vc) | 5 | Lock | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | Played for University College Dublin, Truro RFC, and Kenya (1954) |
| Evans, Eddie | 6 | Flanker | Kenya Colony | Kitale RFC | Played for Keswick RFC, Manchester University, Loughborough College, Combined English Universities, Bedford RFC and the County of Cumberland |
| Fletcher, H. | 6 | Flanker | Kenya Colony | Kitale | Captained Kitale (1953–54), played for East Africa (1950–51) and Kenya (1954) |
| Thomas, W.K.L. | 7 | Flanker | Kenya Colony | Dodoma RFC | Was a Welsh Schools trialist whilst at Gowerton Grammar School, played for the University of London and Eastern Command |
| Kirk, J. | 8 | Number eight | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | Played for Prince of Wales School, Railway Club, Paignton RFC and Kenya (1954) |
| Humphreys, J. | 8 | Number eight | Kenya Colony | Kenya Regiment | Played for Nondescripts RFC, East Africa Command, Queen's College, Taunton |

### Second Tuskers Copperbelt Tour 1962

In 1962, the Tuskers, captained By Chris Young, toured the Copperbelt region of Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) for the second time. They played seven matches winning two; those played against Ndola and Mufulira.
Second Tuskers Squad :
| Player | | Position | Home union | Club | Notes |
| Mike Andrews | 8 | Number eight | Kenya Colony | Impala RFC | |
| Gordon Bell | | | Kenya Colony | Impala RFC | |
| Peter Blunt | | | Kenya Colony | Impala RFC | |
| Rob Bwye | 2 | Hooker | Kenya Colony | Impala RFC | |
| Ted Darrell | | | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | |
| Ken Duncan | | | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | |
| Brian Granville-Ross | 6, 7 | Flanker | Kenya Colony | Nondescripts RFC | |
| Dirk Klynsmith | | | Uganda Protectorate | Kampala RFC | |
| Martin Konstant | | | Kenya Colony | Impala RFC | |
| Nan Kruger | 4, 5 | Lock | Kenya Colony | Eldoret RFC | |
| Balfour Laing | | | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | |
| Willie Law | | | Kenya Colony | Nakuru RFC | |
| Frank Lawson | | | Tanganyika Territory | Dar es Salaam RFC | |
| Keith McGuinness | | | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | |
| Kevin O'Byrne | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya Colony | Kenya Harlequins | |
| Nick Patterson | 11, 14 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Kericho RFC | |
| Trevor Peregrine | | | Tanganyika Territory | Arusha RFC | |
| Simon Lofty Reynolds | 4, 5 | Lock | Kenya Colony | Nakuru RFC | |
| A.C. Freddie Schwentafsky | 11, 14 | Wing | Kenya Colony | Prince of Wales School | Had been on tour with Combined Kenya Schools XV in the Copperbelt and stayed behind to join the Tuskers. |
| Andrew Tainsh | 6, 7 | Flanker | Kenya Colony | Nandi Bears RFC | |
| Terry Tory | | | Kenya Colony | Nondescripts RFC | |
| Chris Young (c) | 10, 11, 14 | Fly-half, Wing | Kenya Colony | Nakuru RFC | |
| Joe Taylor | | Tour Manager | Kenya Colony | Nondescripts RFC | |

### Third Tuskers England tour 1966

In September 1966, the Third Tuskers toured England. Their captain was Brian Granville-Ross, their manager was Balf Laing, and their assistant manager was Peter Griffiths.
Played against Richmond F.C., Blackheath F.C., Anti-Assassins, Wilmslow RUFC, Vale of Lune RUFC, Harlequin F.C. and Fylde. All matches were lost.

### Fourth Tuskers Ireland Tour 1972

This tour took place in September 1972. The team played eight matches, winning three.

### Fifth Tuskers Zambia Tour 1975

Fifth Tuskers Squad :
| Player | | Position | Home union | Club | Notes |
| Hamilton, Douglas "Dougie" (Tour Manager) | 6 | Flanker | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins F.C. | Played for RAF Coastal Command, Scorpions RFC, Kenya, East Africa and Sherborne RFC |
| Rowlands, Rob (Asst. Manager) | 10 | Fly-half | Kenya | Impala RFC | Played for Camborne RFC, Scorpions RFC, Kenya, Uganda and East Africa |
| Evans, Dicky (Captain) | 12 | Inside centre | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Penzance and Newlyn RFC, Richmond F.C., Cornwall, Scorpions RFC, Kenya, Uganda and East Africa |
| Tarbit, John (Vice Captain) | 8 | Number eight | Tanzania | Dar es Salaam | Played for Gosforth RFC, Northumberland, Malawi and Scorpions RFC |
| Allison, John | 1 | Prop | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins F.C. | Also played for Scorpions RFC and Kenya |
| Brown, Tom | 3 | Prop | Kenya | Impala RFC | Played for Lusaka Sports Club and Jordanhill |
| Cashin, John | 4 | Lock | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins F.C. | Also played for Sussex University, Rosslyn Park F.C. and Scorpions RFC |
| Cobb, Andy | 1 | Prop | Kenya | Impala RFC | Played for Scorpions RFC, Kenya and East Africa |
| Davies, Gareth | 2 | Hooker | Kenya | Impala RFC | Played for Bangor University, Widnes RUFC North Wales and Bahamas |
| Evans, David | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Fettes College and Keswick RFC. David is the son of Eddie Evans who captained East Africa in 1957-58 |
| Evans, Mike | 7 | Flanker | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Madeley College RFC, Keswick RFC Scorpions RFC, Kenya and East Africa. Mike is David's brother. |
| Evans, Rod | 8 | Number eight | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Carnegie College, Headingley RFC, Keswick RFC and Cumberland. Rod is cousin to David and Mike, and follows his father Archie and brother Pete by representing East Africa. |
| Granger-Brown, Kevin | 11 | Wing | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Also played for Scorpions RFC, Kenya and East Africa |
| Harrington, Peter | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins F.C. | Played for London Irish and Scorpions |
| Hughes, David | 13 | Outside centre | Kenya | Thika Sports Club | Played for Scorpions RFC and Central Province (Kenya). |
| Hunter, Craig | 4 | Lock | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins F.C. | At 17, he is the youngest player ever to represent East Africa |
| Kabetu, Ted | 14 | Wing | Kenya | Mombasa Sports Club | Also played for Scorpions RFC, Kenya and East Africa. First black player to represent East Africa, touring Ireland with Fourth Tuskers. |
| Larsen, Lau | 5 | Lock | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Dar es Salaam RFC, Scorpions RFC and Tanzania. |
| Leask, Roy | 9 | Scrum-half | Kenya | Impala RFC | Also played for Lusaka Sports Club and Scorpions RFC |
| Muhato, John | 15 | Fullback | Kenya | Impala RFC | Professional hunter, represented Kenya in the Munich Olympics (1972) at shooting. Played for Scorpions RFC, Kenya and East Africa |
| Omaido, Jackson | 13 | Outside centre | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | First season in senior rugby, Played for Scorpions RFC and West Kenya. |
| Omaido, Walter | 10 | Fly-half/Inside centre | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | First season in senior rugby, Walter is Jackson's younger brother. |
| Onsotti, Chris | 3 | Prop | Kenya | Impala RFC | Chris' second tusker tour; he also toured Ireland. He is the only black player yet to have played for East Africa in the pack. |
| Partington, Derek | 6 | Flanker | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Played for Liverpool RFC, playing his second season in Kenya. |
| Riley, John | 8 | Number eight | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | First season in Kenya, played for Streatham-Croydon RFC and S.E. Police (U.K.) |
| Rune, Palle | 5 | Lock | Kenya | Thika Sports Club | Played for Scorpions RFC |
| Smith, Rod | 2 | Hooker | Kenya | Kenya Harlequins | Played for Scots Guards and Scorpions RFC. Toured Texas with Impala RFC (1973) |
| Walsh, Mike | | | Kenya | Nondescripts RFC | Tour Secretary Played for Nondescripts RFC, touring Malawi and Zambia. Secretary of Scorpions RFC. |

#### Zambia v East Africa 1975

Team Lists :
ZAMBIA :
| | | Player | Club | Home Union |
| FB | 15 | L. Roger | Ndola Wanderers RFC | |
| RW | 14 | D. Eastcroft | Lusaka RFC | |
| OC | 13 | D. Holt | Nchanga RFC | |
| IC | 12 | C. Plaisted | Mufulira RFC | |
| LW | 11 | G. Redlinghys | Nchanga RFC | |
| FH | 10 | B. Brindley | Ndola Wanderers RFC | |
| SH | 9 | P. Ellis | Lusaka RFC | |
| LP | 1 | P. Duffy | Roan Antelope RFC | |
| HK | 2 | G. Charalambides | Diggers RFC | |
| TP | 3 | M. Smith | Nchanga RFC | |
| LL | 4 | G. Wadey | Lusaka RFC | |
| RL | 5 | Peter Stagg | Ndola Wanderers RFC | and |
| OF | 6 | C. Raleigh | Diggers RFC | |
| BF | 7 | S. Clarke | Nchanga RFC | |
| N8 | 8 | G. Patterson (c) | Lusaka RFC | |
| Substitutes: |||||
| | 16 | C.McVeigh | Lusaka RFC | |
| | 17 | J.Archer | Lusaka RFC | |
| | 18 | Stucki | Lusaka RFC | |
| | 19 | R.Taylor | Ndola Wanderers RFC | |
| | 20 | G.Murray | Ndola Wanderers RFC | |
| Manager: | Manager: | J. Wesson | J. Wesson | |
EAST AFRICA :
| | | Player | Club |
| FB | 15 | J. Muhato | Impala RFC |
| RW | 14 | T. Kabetu | Mombasa Sports Club |
| OC | 13 | P. Evans (c) | Nondescripts RFC |
| IC | 12 | D. Hughes | Thika Sports Club |
| LW | 11 | K. Granger-Brown | Nondescripts RFC |
| FH | 10 | R. Rowland | Impala RFC |
| SH | 9 | R. Leask | Impala RFC |
| LP | 1 | A. Cobb | Impala RFC |
| HK | 2 | R. Smith | Kenya Harlequins |
| TP | 3 | J. Allison | Kenya Harlequins |
| LL | 4 | J. Cashin | Kenya Harlequins |
| RL | 5 | L. Larsen | Nondescripts RFC |
| BF | 6 | J. Riley | Nondescripts RFC |
| OF | 7 | M. Evans | Nondescripts RFC |
| N8 | 8 | R. Evans | Nondescripts RFC |
| Substitutes: |||||
| | 16 | D. Evans | Nondescripts RFC |
| | 17 | J. Omaido | Nondescripts RFC |
| | 18 | J. Tarbit | Dar es Salaam RFC |
| | 19 | G. Davies | Impala RFC |
| | 20 | C. Onsotti | Impala RFC |
| Manager: | Manager: | Douglas "Dougie" Hamilton | Douglas "Dougie" Hamilton |

### Sixth Tuskers Zambia Tour 1979

At the culmination of the 1978 tour to Zambia by Kenya an invitation was issued to the Tuskers to tour Zambia in 1979 to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the First Tuskers Tour. The second ever match between East Africa and Zambia took place on this tour with East Africa winning 21–13, thus evening up the record. Jackson Omaido (Mean Machine) was tour Captain.

### Seventh Tuskers Zambia and Zimbabwe Tour 1982

The entire squad consisted of Kenyan players with the exception of David Nsubuga of Uganda. Rob Bertram, then chairman of Nondescripts RFC, was the tour manager and Jackson Omaido (Harlequins) was the Captain. Rodney Evans (Nondescripts) was player-coach and took over the captain's role with Omaido injured ahead of the test against Zimbabwe.

## List of Matches

All matches played at RFUEA Ground (Nairobi, Kenya) except for those on a Tuskers tour (indicated by a grey background).
| Date | Opposition | Opposition players with, or subsequently awarded, caps | Score | Result | East Africa Captain |
| 1950-01-07 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (3), England (1), Scotland (1) | 5 - 33 | Lost | W.B. Young |
| 1950-01-21 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (3), England (1), Scotland (1) | 0 - 16 | Lost | W.B. Young |
| 1950-01-28 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (3), England (1), Scotland (1) | 9 - 27 | Lost | W.B. Young |
| 1954 | First Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | First Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | First Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | First Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | J. Todd |
| 1954-08-21 | Ndola Wanderers RFC at Ndola | | 5 - 13 | Won | |
| 1954-08-22 | Combined Diggers/Pirates XV at Nkana | | 18 - 24 | Won | |
| 1954-08-25 | Combined Nchanga/Mufulira XV at Mufulira | | 6 - 35 | Won | |
| 1954-08-28 | Combined Mufulira/Nchanga XV at Chingola | | 3 - 11 | Won | |
| 1954-08-29 | Copperbelt XV at Luanshya | | 29 - 11 | Lost | |
| 1954-09-1 | Roan Antelope RFC at Luanshya | | 15 - 21 | Won | |
| 1954-09-4 | Broken Hill RFC at Broken Hill | | 6 - 16 | Won | |
| 1954-09-5 | Lusaka RFC at Lusaka | | 8 - 13 | Won | |
| 1955-09-28 | British Lions | Wales (7), England (3), Scotland (3), Ireland (2) | 12 - 39 | Lost | P.J.F. Wheeler |
| 1956-01- | Rhodes University Invitation XV | | 9 - 18 | Lost | A.I. McLean |
| 1956-01- | Rhodes University Invitation XV | | 0 - 41 | Lost | R. Kavanagh |
| 1956-01- | Rhodes University Invitation XV | | 8 - 16 | Lost | A.M. Tippett |
| 1956-02- | Rhodes University Invitation XV | | 6 - 25 | Lost | |
| 1957-07-20 | Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities | England (6), Scotland (2), Ireland (1), Wales (1) Including 2 British Lions | 9 - 44 | Lost | D.F. Rees |
| 1957-08-17 | Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities | England (6), Scotland (2), Ireland (1), Wales (1) Including 2 British Lions | 6 - 47 | Lost | E.R. Evans |
| 1957 | Salisbury Sports Club (Rhodesia) | Rhodesia (2) | 9 - 22 | Lost | |
| 1958-05-28 | Barbarian F.C. | Wales (5), Scotland (4), Ireland (2) Including 10 British Lions | 12 - 52 | Lost | A.I. McLean |
| 1958-12 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (1) | 12 - 24 | Lost | R.H. Chambers |
| 1959-01 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (1) | 3 - 54 | Lost | W.W. Law |
| 1959-01 | University of Cape Town | South Africa (1) | 0 - 54 | Lost | E.R. Evans |
| 1961 | South Africa | Full South African International Team | 0 - 39 | Lost | C.C. Young |
| 1962-05-05 | British Combined Services | Scotland (1), Wales (1) and one Barbarian | 17 - 36 | Lost | R.B. Laing |
| 1962 | Second Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | Second Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | Second Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | Second Tuskers Copperbelt Tour | C.C. Young |
| 1962 | Ndola Wanderers RFC | | - | Won | |
| 1962 | Mufulira | | - | Won | |
| 1962 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1962 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1962 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1962 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1962 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1962-08-28 | British Lions | Wales (6), Ireland (4), England (3), Scotland (2) | 0 - 55 | Lost | C.C. Young |
| 1963 | Richmond F.C. | | 11 - 8 | Won | C.C. Young |
| 1963 | Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities | | 0 - 19 | Lost | C.C. Young |
| 1964 | Wales | Full Welsh International Team | 8 - 26 | Lost | R.B. Laing |
| 1965 | Anti-Assassins | | 0 - 13 | Lost | D.S. Reynolds |
| 1966 | Blackheath F.C. | | 5 - 44 | Lost | P.J. Spark |
| 1966 | Third Tuskers England Tour | Third Tuskers England Tour | Third Tuskers England Tour | Third Tuskers England Tour | B.G. Granville-Ross |
| 1966 | Richmond F.C. | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Anti-Assassins (at Bury) | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Blackheath F.C. | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Wilmslow | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Vale of Lune | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Harlequins | | - | Lost | |
| 1966 | Fylde | | - | Lost | |
| 1967 | British Middle East Command | | 5 - 15 | Lost | |
| 1968 | Queen's University (Belfast) R.F.C. | | 5 - 29 | Lost | D.S. Reynolds |
| 1968-07-20 | Middlesex County XV | | 0 - 28 | Lost | D.S. Reynolds |
| 1969 | Anti-Assassins | | 8 - 40 | Lost | A. Evans |
| 1971 | Cork Constitution RFC | | 6 - 9 | Lost | G. Barbour |
| 1971 | Blackrock College RFC | | 24 - 8 | Won | K. Lillis |
| 1972-04-29 | Rosslyn Park F.C. | | 9 - 26 | Lost | D. Parker |
| 1972 | Richmond F.C. | | 9 - 19 | Lost | G. Barbour |
| 1972 | Fourth Tuskers Ireland Tour | Fourth Tuskers Ireland Tour | Fourth Tuskers Ireland Tour | Fourth Tuskers Ireland Tour | G. Barbour |
| 1972 | | | - | Won | |
| 1972 | | | - | Won | |
| 1972 | | | - | Won | |
| 1972 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1972 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1972 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1972 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1972 | | | - | Lost | |
| 1973-08-04 | Wasps RFC | | 13 - 31 | Lost | K. Lillis |
| 1973 | Harlequin F.C. | | 15 - 20 | Lost | K. Lillis |
| 1975 | Fifth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Fifth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Fifth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Fifth Tuskers Zambia Tour | R. Dicky Evans |
| 1975-08-23 | Zambia club champions 1975 (Ndola Wanderers RFC) at Ndola | Peter Stagg Scotland and British Lions | - | Won | |
| 1975-08-26 | Combined (Roan/Ndola/Mufulira/Chibuluma) XV at Mufulira | | - | Won | |
| 1975-08-28 | Combined (Chingola/Diggers/Kitwe) XV at Nchanga | | - | Won | |
| 1975-08-31 | Zambia at Kitwe | Full Zambian International Team (including Peter Stagg Scotland and British Lions) | 18 - 15 | Lost | P.D. Evans |
| 1975-09-02 | Combined Zambian Clubs XV (Lechwe RFC) at Luanshya (under floodlights) | | 4 - 31 | Won | |
| 1975-09-06 | Midlands at Lusaka | | - | Won | |
| 1976 | Rugby Roma Olimpic | | 6 - 9 | Lost | R.G.R. Evans |
| 1976 | Rugby Roma Olimpic | | 9 - 9 | Drawn | R.G.R. Evans |
| 1976 | Combined Zambian Clubs XV (Lechwe RFC) | | 6 - 23 | Lost | R.F. Rowland |
| 1979-05-26 | Blackheath F.C. | | - | | |
| 1979 | Sixth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Sixth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Sixth Tuskers Zambia Tour | Sixth Tuskers Zambia Tour | |
| 1979 | Zambia | Full Zambian International Team | 13 - 21 | Won | |
| 1982 | Seventh Tuskers Zambia and Zimbabwe Tour | Seventh Tuskers Zambia and Zimbabwe Tour | Seventh Tuskers Zambia and Zimbabwe Tour | Seventh Tuskers Zambia and Zimbabwe Tour | R.G.R. Evans |
| 1982 | Copperbelt XV at Roan Antelope RFC, Luanshya | | 6 - 25 | Won | |
| 1982 | Ndola Wanderers RFC at Ndola | | 3 - 20 | Won | |
| 1982 | Matabeleland XV at Hartsfield Ground, Bulawayo | | 40 - 19 | Lost | |
| 1982 | Midlands XV at Que-Que | | 16 - 35 | Won | |
| 1982-03-20 | Zimbabwe at Salisbury | Full Zimbabwean International Team | 15 - 12 | Lost | |

## Notable personalities

The first black player to represent East Africa was J.K. "Ted" Kabetu (Mombasa Sports Club), who played on the wing against Richmond F.C. in 1972: he was also the first black rugby player at Mombasa Sports Club and, in 1974, the first black player to captain a rugby club in East Africa. Another Nairobi School former pupil, Chris Onsotti (then of Impala R.F.C., later of Mwamba R.F.C.) was the first black player to represent East Africa as a forward, playing prop on the Fourth Tuskers tour of Ireland 1972.
There is a frequently repeated urban myth that Idi Amin was selected as a replacement by the team for their 1955 match against the British Lions, while still a sergeant in the King's African Rifles. While Amin did play club rugby at the time, he does not appear in the team photograph or on the official team list.

## Playing record
### Test Matches

| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won |
| British Lions | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| South Africa | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Wales | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Zambia | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 67% |
| Zimbabwe | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 8 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 25% |

### Non-test Matches

| Against | Played | Won | Lost | Drawn | % Won |
| University of Cape Town | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0% |
| Copperbelt XV | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Rhodes University Invitation XV | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0% |
| Combined (Oxford and Cambridge) Universities | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0% |
| Salisbury Sports Club | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Barbarian F.C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| British Combined Services | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Richmond F.C. | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 50% |
| Anti-Assassins | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0% |
| Blackheath F.C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| British Middle East Command | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Queen's University (Belfast) R.F.C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Middlesex County XV | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Cork Constitution RFC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Blackrock College RFC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Rosslyn Park F.C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Wasps RFC | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Harlequin F.C. | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0% |
| Total | 32 | 2 | 30 | 0 | 6.4% |

## Participating Unions

The members of this team are drawn from players who qualify to be selected for:
* Kenya national rugby union team
* Tanzania national rugby union team
* Uganda national rugby union team