Martin Owila replaces Cyprian Kuto in Kenya Sevens team

Nakuru Rugby Football Club’s forward Martin Owila will make his IRB World Sevens Series debut at Gold Coast Sevens this weekend.

The 19-year-old Owila, who earned his maiden international sevens cap at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games in July, has replaced injured Cyprian Kuto.

According to a statement from the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), Kuto, who plays for Strathmore Leos, sustained a facial injury during a training session at the team’s training camp in South Africa.

Kuto was due back in the country as the team left South Africa on Monday for the opening leg of the 2014/2015 IRB World Sevens Series in Australia.

Incidentally, Owila also earned his first 15s international cap this year during the 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Madagascar in June.

“I am so excited since this is another God-given opportunity to showcase my talent,” said Owila.

“We are a young team but we are hungry to perform on the big stage and for sure we shall make it.

ARCH-RIVALS

Kenya will open her pool B campaign against American Samoa at 4.40am on Saturday before meeting former world champions Wales at 8.10am.

They will wrap up the day’s matches against continental arch-rivals and Commonwealth Games champions South Africa at 11.17am.

Paul Treu, who is marking his second season as Kenya Sevens coach, will once again renew rivalry with his former Springbok side that he met six times last season, winning only once against them.

Kenya and Wales shared the spoils from their four meetings last season, each side claiming two wins.

Kenya finished seventh last season with 84 points, having reached Plate final in Gold Coast, Glasgow and London and the Plate semis in Dubai, South Africa and Tokyo.