Attention now shifts to the World Cup

• KRFU chairman to launch funds drive to help send the team to Dubai

The Kenya seven-a-side rugby team is due back home on Wednesday at 9.30 pm from the USA after competing in the fourth tournament of the International Rugby Board Sevens Series.

Kenya lost 7-22 to New Zealand in the Plate final after coming from behind to beat Samoa 17-12 in the semi-finals.

With the targeted 18 points in the bag, Kenya is now placed sixth in the IRB Sevens World Series rankings with 24 points.

England and South Africa tie at top with 60 points each, New Zealand has 52, Argentina 48 and Fiji 32.

Urgency

Attention now switches to the fifth Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai next month and the team has just 10 days to prepare for the 24-team tournament which kicks off on March 5.

Such is the urgency for the team to do well that the Kenya Rugby Football Union chairman Richard Omwela will on Tuesday launch a funds drive on a local radio station to garner support for the team.

Omwela appealed to the rugby fraternity to donate a minimum of Sh20,000 towards the cause.

“We have my lawyer friends and quite a few supporters who can be counted upon because all our other avenues to support the team have failed,” Omwela acknowledged.

The cheques can be dropped off at the KRFU offices on Ngong Road.

Three Kenyan players are among the top scorers as the eight-leg tournament reached the half-way stage in the USA.

Collins Injera and Australia’s Luke Morahan have each scored 18 tries to lead the standings. Mwamba forward Victor Oduor who scored two tries against New Zealand in a historic 24-7 win on Saturday has 10 tries.

Top scorers

Lavin Asego is fourth among the top point’s scorers. He has 91 points in a list led by New Zealand’s Tomasi Cama 115, Richard Kingi (Australia) 109 and Peni Rokodiva (Fiji) 96.

Injera is not far behind with 90 points, one ahead of England’s Benjamin Gollings, the IRB Sevens World Series top points scorer on 1,871.

Elsewhere, President Mwai Kibaki could hand over the flag to the national Seven-a-side rugby before it’s departure for Dubai to play in the fifth Rugby World Cup from March 5.

Sports Minister, Hellen Sambili said she would forward a request by the Kenya Rugby Football Union Board to the President.

Omwela, the KRFU chairman, some KRFU Directors and the organising committee of the Junior World Rugby Trophy recently briefed her on rugby-related matters.