The Standard Group Plc is a multi-media organization with investments in media platforms spanning newspaper print operations, television, radio broadcasting, digital and online services. The Standard Group is recognized as a leading multi-media house in Kenya with a key influence in matters of national and international interest.

Standard Group Plc HQ Office,
The Standard Group Center,Mombasa Road.
P.O Box 30080-00100,Nairobi, Kenya.
Telephone number: 0203222111, 0719012111
Email: [email protected]

NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

The Lionesses shift focus to Confederation of African Rugby tournament

Rugby

By - Ben Ahenda | Apr 06, 2014

BY Ben Ahenda

National women’s rugby Sevens team. [PHOTO: FILE/STANDARD]

After a dismal performance at the HSBC International Rugby Board (IRB) Hong Kong Sevens, the National Sevens women’s team have shifted their energy to the Confederation of African Rugby(CAR) African Women Sevens Cup to be played in Machakos on Saturday.

This is where they plan to make use of the experience and exposure gained from their participation in the Dubai and Hong Kong Sevens IRB championships.

According to team officials, they are out to see the female side grow to the status of their male counterparts.

The Kenyan team, which is popularly known as Kenya Lionesses, reached the Bowl Finals in the Hong Kong Sevens losing to hosts Hong Kong 33-7.

Keep Reading

In the semis, Kenya defeated Papua Guinea 12-5 with Janet Awino and Janet Akello scoring two tries and Awino converting one.

Earlier, Kenya Lionesses played in Pool C and lost all their preliminary fixtures 35-0 to France and 24-7 to China.

While speaking to FeverPitch from South Africa, Kenya Rugby Union chairman Mwangi Muthee said they would put home advantage into good use to win the title.

“We’ll definitely put into good use the home advantage to win the cup and we pray our rugby fans come out in large numbers to support the team,” said Mwangi.

He said Kenya had used the Dubai and Hong Kong Sevens as a build up to the continental competition.

To prove the seriousness, Tunisia who jetted into the country last week, have been training in Nairobi and will continue to do so in the next six days in readiness for the competition.

Speaking in Hong Kong after the tournament, Kenya Lioness coach Kevin Wambua said: “It’s been a great outing for the Lionesses, we picked many valuable lessons in the tournament and it will surely give us the impetus to improve on our performance and move forward.”

But coach Wambua must work round the clock to improve the departments that were a let down in Hong Kong.

So far, only seven countries have confirmed participation. They are defending champions South Africa, hosts Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tunisia, Senegal, Madagascar and Namibia.

—[email protected]