A bigger Bamburi rugby series kick-off

Since its inception nine years ago, the Bamburi Rugby Super Series will this year realise its dream of a regional spread with top class rugby action in three venues across East Africa.

The action in Kampala, Nairobi and Arusha comes just a week after curtains fell on the 2010 Kenya Cup league hence a guarantee of quality. What with the leagues in Uganda and Tanzania also in top gear.

It will be the first time franchises, eight of them, from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania will be clashing in a month full of high-octane rugby.

The extravaganza, with a prize fund of Sh1m, kicks off on Saturday with three explosive duels; two at the RFUEA grounds and one at Arusha’s Friedkin Recreation Centre.

A fourth fixture at Kyadondo Rugby Club has been delayed for Tuesday when Ugandan sides Rwenzori and Victoria will face off. The delay has been necessitated by the final round matches in the Uganda Rugby Union’s league taking place this weekend.

Lions den

In Nairobi, the 2004/2006 champions Cheetahs take on the 2008 winners Lions in the opening pool A duel at 2pm. Cheetahs comprises players from the 2009 Kenya Cup title holders Impala RFC and Nondescripts RFC while the Lions’ den has Kenya Cup runners up Kenya Commercial Bank RFC, Mwamba RFC and Mombasa.

The defending champions Rhinos are up against Buffaloes in the second clash at 4pm. All the Nairobi matches will be relayed live on SuperSport Select. Tanzania’s Twigas host Kenya’s Nguvu Sharks starting 4.30pm.

The Twigas, an amalgamation of all Tanzanian clubs, made their debut in 2008 and return to the BRSS after a year’s absence. The Ugandan sides Rwenzori and Victoria debuted last year. “Bringing together three teams in a short duration is a challenge and it’s even trickier when one of the teams is from as far as Mombasa,” said Lions’ chairman Dave Mshila.

“But the Lions’ mane and paws are well polished ready to reclaim the crown.” Ideally, Nondies had one of the most explosive packs in Kenya Cup and their combination with an evenly matched and swift Impala will make Cheetah’s duel with Lions a thriller.

Lions also posses similar infusion with KCB players coming in with hefty pack and Mwamba agile backs. Cheetahs’ pack will have the likes of John Muema, Frank Ndong, Lawrence Terer from Impala and a solid backing of Hillary Itela, Littlewood Gilles and Mike Aung from Nondies. Their forward line has Innocent Simiyu, Moses Kola, Lawrence Buyachi, Brian Nyikuli and Charles Kanyi.

KCB’s skipper Edwin Alubaka shall marshall Lions’ pack hunt alongside club mate Curtis Olago, Curtis Lilako and Ronnie Mwenesi with Mwamba’s Richard Nyakwaka completing the equation. Their back-line shall showcase Ken Isindu, Peter Mutai, Kevin Wambua, Brian Omondi and Fabian Olando.

Rhinos, arguably the most successful franchise in BRSS history to date, have players from the newly crowned Kenya Cup kings Kenya Harlequin and Nakuru RFC.