Safaricom 7s to feature U-19 girls for first time
What you need to know:
- Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) training and development coordinator, Malik Ndemi, said the introduction of the category is meant to identify talented players to be put in high performance training, targeting selection for the national squad.
- Uganda Select is among the teams that will feature in the category that will have eight teams. The other teams are Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, Central, Precious Blood, Maono and Arise.
- Nairobi will field two teams while Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Western, Coast, Rwanda and Comras will field one each. Both boys’ and girls’ Under-19 championship will kick off on September 26, with the finals being played a day later at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani.
This year’s edition of the Safaricom Safari Sevens will feature the girls’ Under-19 category for the first time.
The move is aimed at identifying and developing talent for the national women’s squad. This year’s tournament will run from September 26 to 28 at the Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) training and development coordinator, Malik Ndemi, said the introduction of the category is meant to identify talented players to be put in high performance training, targeting selection for the national squad.
“We intend to have this competition annually as we seek to grow the game among women and grow the player base,” said Ndemi.
Uganda Select is among the teams that will feature in the category that will have eight teams. The other teams are Rift Valley, Western, Nyanza, Central, Precious Blood, Maono and Arise.
A total of 11 teams will battle it out in men’s Under-19 competition. Champions Nyanza will come up against 10 other teams, among them last year’s losing finalists Uganda.
NAIROBI TEAMS
Nairobi will field two teams while Rift Valley, Central, Eastern, Western, Coast, Rwanda and Comras will field one each. Both boys’ and girls’ Under-19 championship will kick off on September 26, with the finals being played a day later at the Safaricom Stadium in Kasarani.
Meanwhile, newcomers Germany, Suzuki Wailers and Warriors are the latest sides to name their teams for the tournament.
Germany play in the European Sevens Grand Prix Series while Wailers and Warriors are invitational sides from North East England and Wales respectively.
