Kenyan giants wary of Ugandan threat in School Games rugby

Billy Kipchirchir of Laiser Hill charges forward during their National Secondary Schools Term Two 'A' Games rugby sevens final match against Upper Hill at Kangaru High School on June 18, 2016. PHOTO | BRIAN YONGA |

What you need to know:

  • Six schools will represent the hosts in the discipline which will start on Day Three of the competition (Monday) at Eldoret Sports Club.
  • Laiser Hill and Upper Hill will be making their debut in the competition while St Peter’s Mumias will be hoping to improve on last year’s third place finish.
  • Kangaru School, who lost 21-14 in last year’s final, did not qualify for this year’s competition.
  • Uganda’s St Mary’s Kisubi, Jinja and Kololo will be hoping to sweep the podium in Eldoret.

Kenya’s rugby Sevens and 15s representatives to this year’s Brookside Federation of East African Secondary Schools Sports Association Games in Eldoret will be wary of Ugandan opposition as they bid to sweep both titles.

Six schools will represent the hosts in the discipline which will start on Day Three of the competition (Monday) at Eldoret Sports Club.

National 15s champions Bungoma High School, Moi Sirgoi and former East African champions Kakamega High will fly the country flag in the 15s competition, while Laiser Hill, Upper Hill and St Peter’s Mumias will lead the country’ s assault in the shorter version of the game.

Kenya won gold and silver in the 15s competition last year in Huye, Rwanda courtesy of Laiser Hill and Maseno but lost out to Rwanda’s Sainte Familie in rugby sevens which was making its debut.

Bungoma, who are making their debut at the regional games, are eyeing an historical double to complete a remarkable year. The team’s captain Anthony Otindo believes playing on home soil will be an added advantage.

“It is our first time at this competition and we want to give a good account of ourselves. Winning the national title has made us hungrier for more success and we are not afraid of any teams,” Otindo told Daily Nation Sport.

Newcomers Sirgoi, who lost 19-6 to Bungoma in the national final, will be hoping to go one better in Eldoret.

“Ugandans are strong physically and we need to be wary of this but playing at home should give us the drive to win,” Sirgoi captain Derrick Akwona said.

Kakamega, the 2013 champions, will be hoping for better tides this time after finishing fourth last year.

The Kenyan teams will face Makerere College, Namilyango and last year’s bronze medallists’ Hana Schools all from Uganda in a round robin format. Rugby 15s was the only ball game title that Kenya won last year.

ROUND ROBIN FORMAT

The hosts will be out to reclaim the sevens title from Rwanda. Uganda will have three sides while Rwanda will be represented by ES Mukingi who qualified ahead of last year’s winners Sainte Familie.

All teams will play each other twice and the top two teams after the round robin matches will then contest the Main Cup final match.

Laiser Hill and Upper Hill will be making their debut in the competition while St Peter’s Mumias will be hoping to improve on last year’s third place finish.

Kangaru School, who lost 21-14 in last year’s final, did not qualify for this year’s competition.

Uganda’s St Mary’s Kisubi, Jinja and Kololo will be hoping to sweep the podium in Eldoret.