Murunga to pick Safari Sevens squads
What you need to know:
Murunga said the five players with the national 15s team, Kenya Simbas for the 2019 Rugby World Cup Repechage qualifier slated for November 11-23 in Marseille, France, will also be considered
Safari Sevens will be Murunga’s first assignment as coach since replacing Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu last month
Besides Shujaa and Morans, Kenya will be represented by Stanbic National Sevens Series champion, Homeboyz
Kenya Shujaa and Morans teams that will take part in this year’s Safari Sevens rugby tournament due next weekend at the RFUEA grounds will be named on Tuesday.
Head coach Paul “Pau” Murunga said the Shujaa, eight-time champions, will be slightly stronger than development side Moran.
“I have been training with a lean squad of 30 players and I will drop four when naming the two squads that will have 12 players each,” said Murunga adding that there will be no major changes in the training squad heading into the 2018/2019 World Rugby Sevens Series.
The Series start with Dubai Sevens on November 30-December 1 at The Sevens Stadium before heading to Cape Town for South Africa Sevens on December 8-9 at Cape Town Stadium.
Murunga said the five players with the national 15s team, Kenya Simbas for the 2019 Rugby World Cup Repechage qualifier slated for November 11-23 in Marseille, France, will also be considered.
The players are William Ambaka, Andrew Amonde, Collins Injera, Samuel Oliech, Dennis Ombachi and Nelson Oyoo. “Repechage will be a gruelling tournament hence I will split them depending on their form. We shall monitor them closely,” said Murunga.
Safari Sevens will be Murunga’s first assignment as coach since replacing Innocent “Namcos” Simiyu last month.
Shujaa edged out Samurai International 38-21 to lift the 2016 title but were not able to defend their title last year after the tourney was cancelled.
Meanwhile, World Series core team Spain are among 12 teams that have confirmed participation in this year’s Safari Sevens. Spain, who finished 11th in the 2017/18 Sevens Series season, will be joined by Iberian neighbours Portugal, a former World Rugby Sevens Series core team.
Other teams heading to Nairobi include British sides Apache Sevens, Red Wailers and Samurai Sevens, South African side Cobras, Uganda, Namibia and Burkina Faso, who are making their first appearance.
Besides Shujaa and Morans, Kenya will be represented by Stanbic National Sevens Series champion, Homeboyz.
This year’s tournament takes on a 12 team format, similar to that used at the Olympic Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens competitions.
Safari Sevens confirmed teams are Spain, Portugal, Apache 7s, Red Wailers, Samurai 7s, Cobras, Uganda, Namibia, Morans, Shujaa, Burkina Faso, Homeboyz.
At the same time, Safari Sevens ticket holders will enjoy the luxury of a free bus ride during the tournament.
The buses will operate for 12 hours between 9.00am and 9.00pm next Saturday and Sunday, doing the round trip between the Kencom Bus Stage in Nairobi’s Central Business District and the tournament venue at the RFUEA.
Friday tickets are on sale at a flat fee of Sh 500 while regular advance tickets are retailing at Sh 1200 per day (Saturday and Sunday). VIP advance tickets are on sale at Sh 2500 per day (Saturday and Sunday).
