Kenya Rugby Union Focus on elgon cup

Kenya Airways MD Titus Naikuni presents a chegue to Sevens team captain Andrew Amonde, in presence of head coach Michael Friday, at a Nairobi hotel, yesterday. [PHOTO: MBUGUA KIBERA/ STANDARD]

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Nairobi,Kenya:KRU names players who participated in Bamburi Series to form national team

Only players who participated in the 11th edition of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series (BRSS) will form the national 15s team scheduled to leave tomorrow for a ten-day camp in South Africa.

The Kenya team of 32 players, which was to be named last evening, will prepare for the forthcoming regional Elgon Cup which kicks off in two weeks time and the Confederation of African Rugby One ‘A’ Cup scheduled for Madagascar in July.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) boss Mwangi Muthee said they have decided to give priority to the players who engaged in the BRSS since the tournament revealed great talents that ought to be in the national team, particularly young ones, to have chance to showcase their potential.

Kenya has been granted the privilege to attend the high performance camp as a result of a recently signed partnership deal with South Africa’s Western Province.                                                   Muthee added: “KRU and BRSS are out to build rock solid 15s national team at the same time protect the players and the federation image.”

Meanwhile, the battle lines are drawn as the two top teams in the region battle it out for the top most honours in the BRSS finals at the RFUEA grounds this afternoon.

Following four weekends of hard hitting rugby, high scores, crunching tackles and off-pitch controversy in Mombasa, Mumias, Kampala and Nairobi, it all climaxes to today as Ndovu franchise takes on Rwenzori, in a match that poetically represents a Kenya versus Uganda scenario.

Ndovu which comprises of the Kenya Cup champions Nakuru RFC currently represents the best players in Kenya, while Rwenzori holds the bulk of in-form players from Uganda, which raises the profile of the final, given both sides are eager to claim the ultimate trophy.

Ndovu coach Dominique Habimana has claimed his team is buzzing and ready to take on the Ugandans.

 The last time the two teams met was two weeks ago where Ndovu registered an emphatic 34-12 victory over the hosts at the Kyadondo grounds in Kampala.

“We know it won’t be as easy, but our boys are up to the challenge,” said Habimana.

Fans will be up for a treat as both set of forwards are renowned for their set plays and taking the ball into contact.

The match will be preceded by a third and fourth play-off between Papa and Nyumbu in what will be a chance for Papa to exert their revenge for their loss against Nyumbu in the group stages.