Paawater to name squad
Tusker Simba’s Collins Injera charges to the touchline during Kenya’s friendly match against Western Province at the RFUEA grounds on june 7. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU
What you need to know:
- Paawater guided Kenya to recapturing the Africa Cup that also doubles up as the Confederation of Africa Rugby Division 1A Championships but this year’s competition is unique.
- Paawater had a great opportunity last weekend to witness what some of the Kenya Sevens players had to offer when Tusker Simba played Western Province at the RFUEA grounds.
Kenya 15s rugby head coach Jerome Paawater has held his cards close to his chest as he preparesto names a final squad of 26 for the Africa Cup rugby tournament today at the RFUEA grounds.
Paawater hopes to come up with a fine squad both from the 15s and 7s vanguard as he faces his greatest test since taking over the 15s team three years ago.
Paawater guided Kenya to recapturing the Africa Cup that also doubles up as the Confederation of Africa Rugby Division 1A Championships but this year’s competition is unique.
The tournament set for June 28 to July 6 in Antananarivo, Madagascar, will be used as the African qualifying round for next year’s World Cup. Kenya will play Namibia on June 28 before taking on Madagascar on July 2.
They will wrap up their campaign against Zimbabwe on July 6 in a round-robin contest whose winner will play in the RWC final in the United Kingdom next year. The team that finishes second will get another chance to qualify via the play-offs. South Africa have a direct entry to the finals.
The Kenya 15s will take on the Bamburi Rugby Super Series finalists Kifaru and Papa today before Paawater unleashes his final card for the Antananarivo battle.
But the team will proceed for the high altitude training camp at the Laikipia Sports Club before leaving for Antananarivo.
Paawater had a great opportunity last weekend to witness what some of the Kenya Sevens players had to offer when Tusker Simba played Western Province at the RFUEA grounds.
Simba’s conceded a last minute try to lose 28-32 to Western Province in the international friendly. In a curtain raiser, Kifaru became the first Universities franchise to lift the Bamburi Rugby Super Series, stunning Papa 15-0 in the final.
“I have been working on cohesion in the team with the inclusion of the sevens players whom I had not watched play,” Paawater said. “We all saw the difference they made hence we should select one of the finest squad for the World Cup qualifier.”
Kenya Rugby Union chairman Mwangi Muthee said: “We have worked hard and invested so much in the players and the technical bench. This will go down in history as the best ever preparations by our 15s team.”
Muthee said Kenya’s chances of making to England are real hence the players must keep focus and realize that results come from hard work. “They have all the ammunition to bring down their rivals in Madagascar,” said Muthee.
