RUGBY: Kenya drawn in tough pool in Scotland Sevens series
Rugby
By
- BEN AHENDA
| Apr 23, 2014
By BEN AHENDA
|
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| Dennis Ombachi (top) tackles France’s Steeve Barry. |
Kenya are in a tough Pool C together with Wales, Argentina and Fiji as the second last leg of the IRB World Sevens series head for Glasgow, Scotland, on May 3-4.
The event will be hosted at the 15,000-seater Scotstoun Stadium.
The Sevens charges, being coached by South African Paul Treu, are expected to improve their performance after a dismal show in the Hong Kong Sevens where they harvested only three points after lifting the Shield title.
Currently, the team is placed ninth in the IRB rankings with 60 points in the 21- team log topped by New Zealand who have 136 points.
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South Africa are second with 129 followed by Fiji 112, England 104, Australia 87, Samoa 64, Canada 63, Kenya 60, Wales 57, France 50, Scotland 45, USA 37, Portugal 24 and Spain 10, who finish the first 15 positions.
Kenya start their campaign in Scotland against Wales on May 3 at 10.30am before facing Fiji three and a half hours later.
Their last preliminary match is against Argentina on the same day at 5.09pm.
Pool A has New Zealand, South Africa, Samoa and Portugal while Pool B comprises England, Canada, France and Japan.
Australia, USA, Scotland and Spain are in Pool D.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) chairman Mwangi Muthee said the national teams’ participation in international assignments is set to improve and called on Kenyans to be patient with the team’s coaches.
Speaking to FeverPitch at Nakuru Athletics Club during the Great Rift-10-a-side Championships, Mr Muthee said victories come with better preparations.
“What is crucial in the delivery of positive results is better preparations both in the shorter and longer versions of rugby, which of course cannot be achieved overnight,” said the KRU boss.
In Hong Kong, Kenya won only the Shield competition after running over Portugal 17-10 in the final.
This was after a disastrous performance in the Pool A matches where they started off well by hitting Sri Lanka 41-0 before losing 7-10 to Wales and finally being beaten 43-5 by Fiji.
It resulted in them dropping to the Bowl quarters where they lost 26-12 to Scotland, and dropping to the Shield semis where they dispatched Spain 12-7 on their way to the final.
In the finals, Kenya smashed Portugal 17-10 to collect three points.
The last round of the series will take place in London, England on May 16-17.