Mang'u High School eye Central Region rugby 15s glory

Action between Alliance High School (right) and Ofafa Jericho. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Former national 15s rugby champions Mang'u High School are determined to wrestle the Central Region title, as they train their eyes on the East Africa schools games set for Rwanda in August.

Head coach Dennis Munene said they are on a hunting mission for more glory and will not relent.

After their qualification into the semifinals where they are scheduled to face Magumo on Friday at Mpesa Academy in Thika, Munene said they are ready for action.

The other semifinal match will pit Pioneer Secondary School against Alliance High School.

"We have just started the journey but we are determined to go past our opponents in the regional games and ensure we take part in the national championships and we march on to the East Africa games," Munene told Standard Sports.

The Central Region have held its preliminary matches, paving for semifinals and finals matches this weekend.

Mang'u defeated Alliance 17-0 in the quarterfinals and should they meet again in the final, Munene promises a similar result.

"I don't see any stiff opposition from Alliance whom we have easily defeated in the past matches and we'll do the same if we meet in the final," said Munene.

A converted try, a penalty-try and a penalty conversion was all Mang'u required to conquer the mighty Alliance who also made it to the last four in the round-robin fixtures.

"The pride of any coach is to compete in the highest level of any competition and I'm not an exception and this is why we are taking a match at a time as we focus on the bigger picture," he said.

Mang'u is one of the schools from Central Kenya, which has been a granary for rugby talents in the region.

"Our dominance as a rugby talent centre is there to stay and we are determined to extend it to further levels," said Munene.

Only four teams will compete in the rugby 15s this weekend.