It is Safari Sevens time
The 23rd edition of the Safari Sevens tournament kicks off with age-grade fixtures as from 9am while a floodlit six-team Vets match pitting Harlequins and Blak Blad at 5.30pm.
The gates at Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) swing open this morning with free-entry. U12 boys and girls, U14 boys, U16 boys, U18 boys and U19 girls will battle for their respective titles.
Former players and veterans aged 35 and above will have their action at Impala Club.
In the Vets category defending champions Kenya Harlequins will begin title defence against Blak Blad in the first fixture of the day followed by last season runners -up Nondescripts v Stanbic Mwamba.
The Vets event has been divided into two pools of three teams each, Quins, KCB and Blakblad form Group A while Impala, Nondies and Mwamba make up Group B.
Meanwhile, The Wailers will change their name to Vx3 Wailors courtesy of their new sponsor.
Coach Gary Branan looks forward to axe two local players after they link up five players from Great Britain and 10 players who impressed in the Stanbic Bank 2019 Sevens circuit but did not make it to Shujaa provisional squad.
Commenting on their main objective having been grouped alongside defending champions Samurai, Western Province and Narvskaya Zastava from Russia in Pool B and with prospects of meeting Shujaa in cup quarters, Branan said they are for the Safari Sevens experience other than to win. “We would rather attend Safari Sevens once than go to other five tournaments in a year. We love Nairobi and we choose to field local players as the majority of our players to develop local rugby. I will have my final squad on Friday and we hope we win register a second achievement after Kinsale sevens,” Brannan told People Sport during the team’s training at St Mary’s School, Nairobi.
The tournament received a Sh10 million from title sponsor Tusker and Sh5million from betting firm Betika to run the tournament.
Betika will host Shujaa and Morans players at a dinner today evening and all teams at the end of the competition.
Unlike previous editions, this year will not feature the women category .
The 23rd edition of the Safari Sevens tournament kicks off with age-grade fixtures as from 9am while a floodlit six-team Vets tournament pitting Harlequins and Blak Blad at 5.30pm.
The gates at Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA) swing open this morning with free-entry. U12 boys and girls, U14 boys, U16 boys, U18 boys and U19 girls will battle for their respective titles.
Former players and veterans aged 35 and above will have their action at Impala Club.
In the Vets category defending champions Kenya Harlequins will begin title defence against Blak Blad in the first fixture of the day followed by last season runners up Nondescripts v Stanbic Mwamba.
The Vets event has been divided into two pools of three teams each, Quins, KCB and Blakblad form Group A while Impala, Nondies and Mwamba make up Group B.
Meanwhile, The Wailers will changed their name to Vx3 Wailors courtesy of their new sponsor.
Coach Gary Branan looks forward to axe two local players after they link up five players from Great Britain and 10 players who impressed in the Stanbic Bank 2019 Sevens circuit but did not make it to Shujaa provisional squad.
Commenting on their main objective having been grouped alongside defending champions Samurai, Western Province and Narvskaya Zastava from Russia in Pool B and with prospects of meeting Shujaa in cup quarters, Branan said they are for the Safari Sevens experience other than to win.
“We would rather attend Safari sevens once than go to other five tournaments in a year. We love Nairobi and we choose to field local players as the majority of our players to develop local rugby. I will have my final squad on Friday and we hope we win register a second achievement after Kinsale sevens,” Brannan told People Sport during the team’s training at St Marys School, Nairobi.
The experience the Wailers and 13 other foreign teams in the three-day event to be held at RFUEA Gounds has been assured by the organisers.
The tournament received a Sh10 million from title sponsor Tusker and Sh5million from betting firm Betika to run the tournament.
Betika will be hosting Shujaa and Morans players at a dinner today evening and will host all participating teams at the end of the competition.
Unlike previous edition, the 2019 edition will miss the women category that was won by Kenya Lionesses at RFUEA grounds.
