Gordon Tietjens to be announced as Kenya Sevens coach

Gordon Frederick Tietjens [PHOTO: COURTESY]

The Kenya Rugby Union will Thursday morning announce former New Zealand coach Gordon Frederick Tietjens as the new Kenya Sevens head coach. Innocent Simiyu, former Kenya 15s and Kenya Sevens skipper will deputize the veteran.

Benjamin Ayimba whose contract expired last month was facing stiff competition from Gordon Tietjens, Englishman Ben Ryans, who led Fiji to Olympic gold in Rio, and former Australia coach/player Michael O'Connor.

In the fixtures, Kenya has been placed in a tough group that kicks-off with the Dubai Sevens on December 2-3 and ends with London Sevens on May 20-21 next year.

Kenya are in Pool D with France, Japan and Australia as World Ruby Union retained the 2015/2016 cities that hosted the tournament last season.

Kenya face France on December 2 in the first match at 8am (Kenyan time) before squaring it out against Japan at 11am with the last preliminary group match pitting them against Australia at 5.17pm. The knockout matches would be played on December 3.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Communications Director, Michale  Kwambo said all teams that have qualified to take part in the IRB Sevens Series are tough and none should be underrated.