BIG BATTLE BEGINS: Watamu Beach Rugby tournament kicks off with schools action

Winners of the Diani Beach Rugby tournament Les Gaulois celebrate at the weekend. [PHOTO: TOBIAS CHANJI/STANDARD]

The Watamu Beach Rugby tournament kicks off this morning with the schools category.

However, the teams should brace themselves for strong winds, high tides from the Indian Ocean and possible torrential rains.

Watamu has been experiencing heavy rains in the recent weeks and both players and spectators should be ready for chilly conditions during the tournament, which runs from today to Saturday at Garoda Beach.

The coordinator of the event co-sponsored by the Standard Group Limited, Noni Mbuggus, said all arrangements are completed.

Noni said the event kicks off today with four schools battling it out before the senior teams take each other from tomorrow.

“Masaku team was the first to arrive on Monday and all other teams from Nairobi, South Coast and Mombasa are expected today,” said Noni.
Noni said Kilifi County Governor Amason Kingi will tonight host a cocktail for all participating teams and officially set the ball rolling.

Diani Pirates of South Coast, Mombasa’s Technical University of Mombasa, Nairobi and Mombasa Select sides and Kilifi Rugby Club are some of the teams set for the battle.

Other sponsors are Nakumatt, Kobe Suite Resort, Farmer’s Choice, host Garoda Resort and Kilifi County Government.

Realised dreams

Meanwhile, Les Gaulois won the 2014 Diani Beach Touch rugby title after beating Nairobi’s Karen Crusaders Two in the Main Cup final.

The winners, who have been featuring in the tournament for the past six years, finally realised their dreams as they emerged the better side in the event held at the Forty Thieves Beach in South Coast.

It was a great competitive weekend of Touch Rugby with referees from Nairobi, Mombasa, and South Africa officiating at the event.

The event, which attracted 28 teams, was  organised to raise funds to support the Diani Pirates Rugby Club purchase better training equipment and also give street children an opportunity to be educated, while learning how to play rugby.

East African Breweries, Forty Thieves Beach, Jetlak Foods Limited, Xfor/Skydive, Kenya Tourism Board, Civicon Limited, Valar Frontier Solutions and East African Glassware co-sponsored the three-day event.

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