Excitement as rugby joins Olympics family

By Wanyonyi Wambiliyanga and BS Mulavi

News of rugby sevens inclusion in the Olympics has been met with euphoric excitement.

"This is a great achievement for Kenya and for the rugby fraternity," said former international Edward Rombo.

After hard lobbying where Kenya captain Humphrey Kayange was involved, the dream for the rugby Sevens’ inclusion in the Olympics side has finally been realised.

Rombo, who was the first Kenyan to play in professional rugby, opines that the recognition the sport has achieved is a milestone and he feels the ticket to Rio de Janeiro in 2016 is a given.

"We are the best in Africa and we will definitely go for gold," he said. Kenya was heavily involved in the lobbying, which shows the level of respect the IRB has for the country.

Last year’s IRB top scorer Collins Injera shares in the sentiment and glory.

"The Olympics is the largest sporting platform and definitely getting an opportunity to play in this platform is a great honour," he said. Injera, younger brother to Kayange, says the recognition will add a new impetus to the sport locally as "it is the dream of any player to play in the Olympics".

The World Cup, Injera says, will have to be renamed to something like World Championships since the Olympics becomes a more prestigious tournament.

Sports consultant Hillary Itela feels the sport is there to stay. "Rugby Sevens is in itself an Olympic discipline and now that it has been picked it is there to stay. This is a great honour to the sport," he said.

Meanwhile, the Enterprise Cup is expected to take an interesting turn today when champions Nakuru RFC host Kenya Cup champions Impala at the Nakuru Athletics Club.

Failed to win

Meanwhile, Harlequins host KCB at the RFUEA grounds in the semi-finals of the tournament.

The hosts are itching for revenge for their early Kenya Cup exit at the hands of the champions.

"This is going to be a hot match as we have to avenge our slim defeat at the Impala grounds," said Nakuru captain Gibson Weru.

"We have not won at Impala for close to 10 years, but that will not come into play as they also have a weak record when they travel to Nakuru.

"It will be nice if we can crush them out of the Enterprise Cup and at the same time move closer to retaining the title," said Weru.

"We are hoping to build on the momentum of last weekend’s game where our set pieces were looking solid and now we want to move a notch ahead by dominating open play," he added.

Nakuru looked good against Nondies last weekend at the contact situation with players like Martin Opondo and Dennis Abenga springing up concrete performances.

Impala will limp into the Nakuru fortress with a few injury worries to John Nzioka, Kevin Gesore and Vincent Mose, but the Red Shirts will still be equally lethal, having won the Kenya Cup with a handful of injury concerns.

At RFUEA, pride will take centre stage with hosts Quins eager to break their three-game losing streak to the bankers. The former champions lost to KCB in the Floodlight competition.