Kenya Rugby Union appoints New Zealander Paul Feeney as national technical director of rugby

New Zealander Paul Feeney, KRU chief Oduor Gangla [Courtesy]

Kenya have appointed New Zealander Paul Feeney as the national technical director of rugby to oversee all forms of the game in the country.

A former Auckland and South African Stormers coach, Feeney, who won the 2005 Rugby Sevens World Cup with Fiji, will head the Kenya Sevens programme, as well as supporting the 15s and the women's Lionesses teams in areas of skills and defence.

"I'm grateful to the Kenya Rugby Union for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to work with not only Shujaa (sevens) but also The Simbas (15s) and the Lionesses at large," said Feeney at a news conference on Friday.

Kenya narrowly survived relegation from the International Rugby Board (IRB) world seven series last season -- finishing 14th -- their worst performance since 1999.

Feeney, whose contract runs through to the next Rugby Sevens World Cup campaign in 2022, starts work immediately and his task is to prepare the Kenyan men's team for the African 2020 Olympic qualifiers in South Africa in November.

"We are delighted that Paul has accepted to work with Kenya Rugby and wish him and the teams the very best in the campaign," said KRU chief Oduor Gangla.