Kenyan rugby team in tough pool


Published on 07/10/2009

By BS Mulavi

National Sevens rugby coach, Benjamin Ayimba, believes the fact that Kenya has been drawn against England, US and Russia in the opening 2009/2010 International Rugby Board (IRB) Circuit in Dubai will offer a demanding test to his side’s credentials.

Ayimba has consequently set Kenya, who finished sixth in last season’s campaign, the target of aiming for tournament victory during the December 4 and 5 show down in the Middle East.

National Sevens players in action in a past IRB Circuit event .

"It’s a good pool and matches against England and US will test our team’s form. Our aim for the season is to win our first tournament and Dubai would be ideal before taking things on from there and target the entire series," Ayimba told FeverPitch on Tuesday.

Kenya opens their Dubai Sevens charge with a date with Russia before facing the US and archrivals England in Pool C of the competition.

"It will be important for us to qualify from that pool. The squad will stay largely intact since most of the players we have been using are still in good shape. We will decide when to call them to camp at the weekend," Ayimba intimated.

Open defence

The eight-leg circuit runs until May next year. Defending Dubai titleholders, South Africa will open the defence of their crown in pool A against Sevens world champions Wales, Australia and hosts Arabian Gulf.

Fiji are second seeds and will face Scotland, Samoa and Zimbabwe in pool B and the final group will see eight-time champions, New Zealand, start off with Argentina, France and Portugal.

The tournament’s pooling and fixtures were released just four days before the International Olympic Committee cast a vote on whether sevens rugby should be included in the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange is in the rugby committee pushing for the inclusion of the sport in the Olympics as the vote takes centre stage in Denmark.

IRB chairman Bernard Lappasset lauded Kenya’s role in last season’s circuit and is hoping the game will be part of the Olympic family.

"At a time when Sevens rugby is reaching out for inclusion in the Olympic Games, the interest in the series has never been higher, thanks to performances of Kenya, Argentina, US and Russia," he said.

 

 

Read all about: Benjamin Ayimba Humphrey Kayange

 

 

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