Mombasa to host Africa Cup 7s

Kenyan fans cheer their team during the Safaricom Safari Sevens at the Nyayo National Stadium on September 24 last year. Mombasa will host the Confederation of African Cup Sevens between April 26-28. Photo/MOHAMMED AMIN

What you need to know:

  • Top African countries among them three of Africa’s four World Cup-bound nations, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Kenya are lined up for the event aimed at developing rugby sevens standards in Africa.

Mombasa Sports Club is set to host one of the biggest international rugby sevens events in Africa, the Confederation of African Cup Sevens that takes place at the Coastal town from April 26 to 28.

Top African countries among them three of Africa’s four World Cup-bound nations, Tunisia, Zimbabwe and Kenya are lined up for the event aimed at developing rugby sevens standards in Africa.

Held last year, the event is expected to be made annual.

“Much as we are using the tournament as a warm-up for particularly Tunisia and Zimbabwe, who will join Kenya and South Africa for the World Rugby Sevens to be held in Moscow in June this year, we also want to use it to bring competitive awareness among other Africa countries ahead of the 2014-2015 rugby sevens series,” said KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee while unveiling the event at Mombasa Sports Club Wednesday.

Kenya will however not field their Sevens World Series squad in line with IRB regulations.

The hosts will instead enter two teams in the 12-nation, three-pool affair. Other countries expected include Namibia, Zambia, Uganda, Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria, Madagascar and Morocco.

A role model

“Kenya is a role model for rugby sevens in the Africa thus the reason to stage this event in the country. We are working on making it an annual event to be staged at the Coastal town of Mombasa as one way of developing rugby in our sub unions,” Muthee said.

“All teams will play three games on day one, and will be re-seeded at the end of the pool phase. The teams in positions one to eight will proceed to the Cup quarters, with the winners proceeding to the Cup semis while the quarters losers drop to the Plate semis,” said tournament director, Godwin Karuga.

He added that the national University Sevens will be held alongside the Africa Cup.

Ray Dawa, director in charge of the Coast Rugby Union and chairman of the Tournament Organizing Committee thanked the KRU for granting his region the hosting rights.

CAR Africa Cup Sevens draw: Pool A: Zimbabwe, Ivory Coast, Morocco, Kenya C; Pool B: Tunisia, Namibia, Zambia, Kenya B; Pool C: Nigeria, Madagascar, Senegal, Uganda.

Order of play: April 27 - 10am Zimbabwe v Kenya C, 10.20am Ivory Coast v Morocco, 10.40am Tunisia v Kenya B, 11.00am Namibia v Zambia, 11.20am Nigeria v Uganda, 11.40am Madagascar v Senegal, 12pm Age Grade Rugby, 12.40pm Morocco v Zimbabwe, 13hrs Kenya C v Ivory Coast, 13.20pm Zambia v Tunisia, 13.40pm Kenya B v Namibia, 14.00pm Senegal v Nigeria, 14.20pm Uganda v Madagascar, 14.40pm Age Grade Rugby, 15.20pm Morocco v Kenya C, 15.40pm Zambia v Kenya B, 16.00pm Senegal v Uganda, 16.20pm Zimbabwe v Ivory coast, 16.40pm Tunisia v Namibia, 17.00pm Nigeria v Madagascar.