PAARWATER WANTS MORE: Kenya 15s rugby coach eyes improved 2017 season

Confederation of Africa Rugby Division 1 Kenya Rugby Coach Jerome Paarwater against Tunisia during Confederation of Africa Rugby(CAR) Africa Division 1 match at KRFU ground, Nairobi on Sunday. Kenya won 46-15.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

Kenya Simbas Coach Jerome Paarwater is hoping for an improved performance from the national 15s rugby team during the 2017 international calender.

Having led Kenya to the 22nd position in the world ranking last August, their highest ever, the South African will take this season’s assignments as part of their preparations for next year’s World Cup qualifiers.

“Our plan is obviously to do well, the aim is to do better than last year. We lost one test to Namibia, that is our biggest challenge at the moment. Our expectations are very high, that is the standard in the Simbas,” said Paarwater.

“We need to be on another level with next year’s World Cup qualifiers in mind. No one can afford to rest on their laurels. This group of players will continue to work and we also have to look for more players from the Sevens team, who were part of us.”

“We still need to include them once they are through with the series. We want to give everyone an opportunity. There are a lot of test matches, that is why we have a big squad of players, which will give us more opportunities. The backup players must be as strong as the starting team. “

The Simbas, now ranked 24th globally, have a busy calendar that starts with their Elgon Cup defence away to Uganda on June 10, before playing the Rugby Cranes in the return leg two weeks later.
Kenya will also face Tunisia, Senegal, Zimbabwe and Namibia in the continental show piece.

They will also play a Two Test match against Hong Kong in Nairobi in August.

Meanwhile, Homeboyz RFC have leapfrogged Kenya Cup champions Kabras Sugar into the third position after beating Blak Blad 32-16 in their rescheduled match, at the Kenyatta University grounds at the weekend.
It was the second win against Blak Blad for Homeboyz this season after thrashing the students 43-11 in the first leg last year.

The sixth straight win saw the deejays take their points tally to 47, two ahead of the millers, who were out of action at the weekend.
Kenya Commercial Bank, who face struggling Nondescripts in their next match, lead the table standings with 51 points, two ahead of Kenya Harlequin in second place.

Kenyan international Cyprian Kuto scored twice as Alvine Otieno, Nelson Sangurah and Jeff Oluoch scored one try each. Last year’s finalists Impala RFC also continued with their winning ways as they thumped Nondescripts 24-7 at RFUEA.