Who'll dare stop charging St Joseph's side in Kakamega?

St Joseph's Girls rugby players in action against Mbakulu Girls. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]

East Africa Girls rugby 7s champions St Joseph's Girls High School Kitale will not let the national final upset stop them from defending their regional title.

St Joseph's, popularly known as JOGA, will be out to retain the title and extend their East Africa reign to two years in a row.

Even though they relinquished their national crown after losing 5-17 to Kinale Girls in the national final, they want to make amends.

Team coach Ivy Sikolia said that although her charges were disappointed after losing the national trophy, they are raring to go.

"The girls were shocked because this is a team that didn't know what losing tasted like. We have now focused on the mental aspect and made them understand that in any competition, there is a winner and loser and even the best of the best loses," Sikolia said.

She added that the girls played well but just like them, their opponents had also trained better ahead of the competition.

She heaped praises on their rivals Kinale who are the only side that has beaten them since last year.

"We had set out to defend the national title, but that didn't happen though my girls played very well and gave their best. They lost to a worthy opponent because Kinale is a very good side that showed great improvement from last year's games."

"My girls now understand that the task ahead is very tough and they are determined to go all out and defend their trophy."

The girls' competition attracted six teams; with Kenya fielding four sides in a round-robin format. JOGA, national champions Kinale, bronze medallists St Theresa's Kithimu and Paul Harris will battle it out with two Ugandan sides.

They will launch their title defence campaign on Friday against Jinja Secondary School from Uganda.

Paul Harris will entertain Uganda's Nkoma Secondary School, while Kinale will exchange friendly fire with compatriots St Theresa's on day one of the rugby contest.

The Kenyan girls will be looking to outclass the Ugandans and secure a clean sweep.