INJURY SCARE: Treu likely to recall senior players as his key men at the Gold Coast IRB leg will be out for weeks

CBUS Super Stadium - HSBC Sevens World Series - Gold Coast Sevens - Australia - Photo Martin Seras Lima

Injuries to key players who featured in the Gold Coast Sevens may force the Kenya National Sevens team coach, Paul Treu, to reconsider his stand over senior players who allegedly went on strike.

Treu claims he was left with no option but to leave out the senior players after they allegedly refused to sign performance contracts.

The side went to Australia and won only two games out of six, while key men have been ruled out for lengthy spells with various injuries.

Speaking to the official Kenya Rugby Union media personnel, Treu said: “Three of our players sustained injuries in Australia, Augustine Lugonzo sustained an ankle injury that will require surgery. This will keep him out of action for three months. Max Theuri also suffered knee and ankle injuries. Fabian Olando also sustained an ankle injury but will be managed over the next five to six weeks and should hopefully be ready in time for Dubai.”

Lugonzo was the star man for Kenya in Australia, where he attained 29 points after scoring three tries and converting seven for the team. The Homeboyz player was the shining star for the team that had a number of debutants.

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Fabian Olando on the other end was the player in the backline who had most experience, given that he has been involved with the national team in the past, hence Treu would have been keen to keep him in the set-up.

Without these players Treu is short of choices and will most likely have to extend an olive branch to some of the senior players.

The South African has not ruled out the chance of talking to the senior players on how they can find a way out of the impasse.

Commenting on matters revolving around the group of players who missed out on the Gold Coast leg, Treu said, “We are going to engage with them over the next two days as we look to chart a way forward.”

The squad that travelled to Gold Coast will embark on their mandatory 10 day rest and resume training next week alongside the larger squad as they embark on preparations for the second round of the series, the Dubai Sevens set for December 5 and 6 in the United Arab Emirates and the third leg in South Africa on the following weekend.