It appears the KRU board has finally woken up from its deep slumber and organized friendly matches for the Simbas in preparation for the repechage matches for world cup qualifiers in Marseilles in November.
We have friendly matches against British Army, Namibia and a select side from Blue Bulls of South Africa.
Coach Ian Snook has also called up additional players from the sevens set up to bolster the squad in positions he felt were wanting.
Andrew Amonde and Willy Ambaka are the recent call ups and I am quite sure he is calling up more in time.
Richard Omwela, the KRU chairman, has launched a paybill number to fundraise for the national team’s preparation for the Marseilles’repechage.
I guess what the chairman is saying is that the Sh50 million from EABL is over.
Our opponent in the November repechage, Germany, has hired Mike Ford on a consultancy basis for their preparations.
Ford call up to Germany’s set up underlies their ambitions towards the qualification.
Ford is the former coach of Toulon, the Manchester City of rugby in terms of financial muscle and mercenary type player recruitment, and ex-Bath and England’s national team coach.
Still on the Rugby World Cup, IRB has hinted at increasing the number of teams for the global masterpiece from the current 20 countries to 24 starting 2023 .
If we get our act together I am sure in the next 10 years we will be at the world cup.
Away from the 15s, Mwamba RFC finally went one better by clinching the Dala Sevens leg of the Stanbic Sevens circuit by blanking the Homeboyz in the final to set up a thrilling conclusion to the series next week in the Christie Sevens.
Kulabu sit eight points behind the defending sevens series champions Homeboyz.
The permutations are that Mwamba can secure the overall title so long they claim the Christie Sevens crown and Homeboyz do not go beyond the quarter-finals.
That said it seems the DJs already have the title in the bag as it is hard to see them not going past the quarter-finals as they have been consistent until the last two legs of the series where they have fumbled in the knockouts.
Harlequins are expected to fight for home ground pride and might cause a few surprises.
The hosts do possess the personnel for that with the likes of Herman Humwa, Patrice Agunda and Willy Ambaka.
Who knows, the event might even serve up another surprising champion in KCB or Impala.
Christie Sevens will conclude the national sevens calendar and usher in the carnival of Safari Sevens and that’s where the conundrum starts, again.
We are yet to know who the national sevens coach is or the shortlisted candidates.
Are we still inviting Uganda, Zambia, Tunisia and the usual tourists or some clubs and universities from abroad instead of established opposition that will boost the status of the tournament?
Considering the tournament wasn’t held last year due to political tension arising from the general elections, it is logical to expect a more robust and competitive event this year.
If the ambition of the board is to make Safari Sevens part of the World Rugby Sevens series, KRU has to start inviting serious teams and also provide logistics to match the ambitions other than the usual annual pronouncements.
Having been a fanatical “Safarian” for the last 15 years, it has become tiring watching Kenya A versus Kenya B in the final beating Emerging Boks, Western Province, or even the fancied Samurai in the quarters.
I would rather we lose to Samoa, Argentina or Blitzbokke in the semis but we market Safari Sevens as a tournament that can actually attract the big boys.
Why would I want to pay over Sh1,000 to watch next door neighbours hammer each other in a so-called Africa premier rugby tournament? Why call it premier then?
Finally, to the good and ugly of rugby on the international stage.
During the Rugby Championship game between the All Blacks and Pumas, Te Toiroa Tahuriorangi made his debut in the black jersey and his family, led by the very proud dad, performed haka for the son in the stands.
I know some folks feel haka has become too much and lost its mystique but this performance was just special and heartwarming.
WATCH VIDEO HERE
Now to the ugly…
Picture Mathieu Bastareaud, all 100-plus kilos of him, running full speed at you. Imagine the impact on the opponent before the actual punch to the guy’s head.
The Toulon player deserves a lengthy ban for such thuggish behavior in the French Top 14 match against Castres.
Bastareaud was sent off for a swinging forearm to the head of Castres lock Christophe Samson who lay unprotected on the ground.
- Advertisement -
