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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Sh6m boost for rugby

Politics

By The Standard Sports | Feb 10, 2010

By Titus Onserio and BS Mulavi

For the second year running, Nivea for Men has renewed its sponsorship with Kenya Harlequins RFC to the tune of Sh6 million.

According to Beidersorf Marketing manager, Faith Wanderi, the six million shilling boost will enable the club participate in all upcoming KRFU fixtures in the 2010 season besides providing branded kits for players, branding Harlequins home ground at the RFUEA grounds, as well as sponsorship for the 2010 Christie Sevens tournament hosted by Quins annually.

Speaking at the Norfolk Hotel at the official unveiling of the sponsorship, Wanderi said they have increased the sponsorship by a further Sh2 million, up from last year’s Sh4 million four million due to their confidence in the club.

To receive the sponsorship was Quins vice chairman Philip Jalang’o, KRFU Vice chairman Fred Odhiambo and secretary Frank Sabwa.

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"We will use the money to take the club to even greater heights. We plan to adopt a school where we will instill our values and help them improve on their rugby," said Jalang’o.

Sabwa welcomed the move and urged more corporate bodies to venture into the sport which is performing extremely well and rapidly growing in popularity.

Marketing Manager Beiersdorf East Africa Ltd Faith Wanderi (left) hands over a dummy cheque worth Sh1.8m to Harlequins Vice-chairman Philip Jalang’o as KRFU Vice Chairman Fred Odhiambo and Secretary Frank Sabwa look on at the Norfolk Hotel, Tuesday. [PHOTO: STAFFORD ONDEGO/STANDARD]

"I wish to remind Nivea that there is also rugby for women," said Sabwa.

Longer relationships

Odhiambo appealed to the sponsors to foster longer relationships with their clients.

"We have been getting one-year sponsorships, but I urge the sponsors to commit themselves for longer terms to help clubs plan appropriately.

Quins start their season on Saturday when they host Nondies RFC at the RFUEA grounds for the Kenya Cup.

Meanwhile, Homeboys group, which has been involved with the sponsoring of Mwamba RFC and Nakuru RFC have sunk their teeth deeper in the rugby fraternity by introducing a team of their own into the union.

The team, which is known as Homeboys RFC, has been holding trials for new players at the Nairobi University grounds under the stewardship of coach Paul Murunga and they are well on course on registering players with the

KRFU before their Eric Shirley Shield game against Methodist University on Saturday.

"Homeboys have always had interest with rugby and they thought it would be best for if they also had a side in the league," said Murunga.

"However, we can not just enter the Kenya Cup, we first have to qualify by winning the Eric Shirley Shield and gainpromotion," he added.

Homeboys are said to have poached some major names from the big teams but that will only be confirmed after registration of the players.