Kenya Rugby : Boeing KQ7 has landed

As reported earlier Kenya Airways are the new confirmed sponsors of
the Kenya Rugby 7's team. Goodbye Virgin Atlantic and Richard Branson
Hello KQ and Taitus Naikuni.

Kenya Rugby : 15s Season finally comes to an end - Highs and Lows

Kenya Rugby 15s season Post-Mortem

2009 arguably witnessed one of the longest, tiring but exciting 15s Kenya season. There were winners indeed and there were losers. However the buck must stop with the KRFU. How they continue to run/administer the game in Kenya while at the same time flout their own rules is indeed a mystery.

The managers of the game have indeed taken a straight leaf from George Orwell's best seller 'Animal Farm', with the golden rule being 'All animals are equal but some animals are more equal than others'. SOYA should not repeat the mistake of giving KRFU the award they absolutely did not deserve early this year.

Highs

The Bamburi Super Rugby Tournament continued with its expansion this time with the Ugandan teams of Ruwenzori and Victoria Impis replacing the Tanzanias in the regional tournament. The games in Kampala received good support and the Ugandans had adequately prepared themselves as they debutted in the Super Rugby Tournament. Kenyan teams were floored in Kampala and thus Ruwenzori made it to the semi-finals at their first attempt. Their gallant march was however halted by Kenyan side Rhinos who eventually went on to win the tournament at the RFUEA grounds.

The IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy Championship was held in Kenya for the first time ever. The competition brought in 8 quality teams from all over the world as Kenya went on to finish 4th in a well deserved placing for the under 19s. The team had players who if well guided and exposed could actually give Kenya a strong chance of qualifying for the 2015 Rugby World Cup under the guidancee of a good qualified experinced coach.

Impala then started their season on a high note winning their own floodlit tournament in front of a record crowd at their Ngong Road home. The popularity of this tournament cannot be overlooked as it also received good corporate support. However one must wonder when Impala Rugby will invest in proper floodlights at their ground to improve the quality of the tournament as it is the only one of its kind in East African rugby.

The national 15s team under Michael Tank Otieno finished runners-up in the Africa Rugby Championship held in Morocco. The host country were the winners in a tournament that felt the absence of Tunisia, Uganda, Madagascar and Zimbabwe. National pride was lifted by Kenya's victory over Uganda in the Annual Elgon Cup.

The Africa under 18 Rugby Championships were held in Kenya and Zimbabwe were the justified winners after having lost the right to host the tournament after a 'cholera' outbreak in Harare. Zimbabwe were third time lucky beating Namibia in a one-sided game 39-7. Kenya finished fourth.

The Kenya Cup reduced by Mombasa's exit was a closely fought affair. KCB, Quins, Impala and Nakuru challenged for honours but in the end it was Impala who raced away stripping the next door Quins of the title. At the bottom end Mwamba only flattered to deceive while Nondies were the most improved team in the second leg. Mean Machine and Strathmore fought hard to avoid the basement but their fate was long sealed in the first leg. Quins were winners of the second tier Eric Shirley Shield.

The Enterprise and Supremacy Cup were exchanged between Quins and Impala respectively but in the end Impala carried off the bragging rights as the most dominant 15's club side of 2009. KCB were Mwamba Cup winners while Quins won the second tier Supremacy Cup.

Lows

The season was too long with too many international tournaments in the season itself.

The organisation of the Africa under 18 championship was a disgracefully poorly organised affair.

The national 15's side had a poor showing despite winning the meaningless Elgon Cup.

The Kenya Cup, Eric Shirley, Enterprise, Mwamba Cup and Supremacy Cup had no sponsorship yet clubs and officials invested a lot for a nil return.

Refereeing by our local whistlers was below par.

The KRFU broke its own rules regarding running of its own tournaments and unashamedly were biased in favour of Impala Club much to the detriment of the rest of Kenya Rugby.

Womens rugby was all but in name.

One duly wonders whether 2010 will see an improved season.

Supremacy Cup

It turned out not to be the battle all expected it to be. Impala made it 3 wins out of 4 over Harlequins this season and quite an emphatic win it was. The first half lived up to it's billing but Quins didn't come out for the second half. They allowed Impala to pile score after score and their desperation caused them to try running from deep in their half, that error costing them dearly.

The only sour taste left by the match was that despite it being sold as the winners of the Kenya Cup vs. the winners of the Enterprise Cup, several players were on the field who won neither event and even then, did not even participate in those events for those clubs. Makes you wonder if any rules exist for this ad hoc match, but again we know who is running the union.

Do have a good week.

Supremacy Cup Results

Impala 33 Quins 24 KCB II 10 Quins II 25

Weekend Games

Two matches on the cards this weekend. The supremacy cup between the winners of the leagues and cups in both divisions. Kenya Harlequins are represented in both matches and were the winners of the same event last year. The second division match pits them against perennial rivals KCB whilst the highlight of the day also is against arch rivals Impala.

Both matches promise to be explosive. The only thing missing is the prize money but I hear all the teams and the KRFU have been generous enough to donate the entire gate takings to the Gender Violence Recovery Centre, quite an honorable gesture. But on the field it will be the full bragging rights at stake and that leaves for explosive action. In the second division match, both teams I'd say are fairly matched and both teams have a sprinkling of first team players on their way to recovery from injuries. These player played a major role in last weekend's final. The winner will be determined by he who makes the fewer errors.

The first division one is also going to be a blinder. All matches, even last weekend's between these sides this year have been tough and close and he who blinks first will lose this one. I'm not calling anything this weekend, let me keep my money.

Do have a good weekend and enjoy your last fifteen a-side rugby before the sevens season starts.

Weekly Ramble

Well the fifteens season has come to a close and I must say it was quite a season. Midway through the season I started to feel that we were quickly forgetting about what fifteens rugby is about and losing patience with the whole thing. True, some teams could not be bothered, and some other teams have not played a single fifteen a side match this season, but to those that did, congratulations and well done.

My post-Kenya Cup post may have been a bit harsh on Harlequins and they came out to prove me wrong. Even my pre-match prediction was premised on that same belief and they showed me just how mistaken I was. The display this past weekend was one of they took the impala bull by the horns literally and never let go. That their goal kicking has also improved means they were able to turn more of their territory and possession into points and keep Impala scrambling for options. Nonetheless an entertaining and thrilling match.

I am not a fan of the so-called grandslam that is coming up as to me I don't know what it proves. Last year's was the biggest sham in that a team that had not played a competitive match in four weeks beat the one that had just won a final, and through the most difficult route possible! Over celebration perhaps, a flue I think not, but still form does account for something. This time round however, I will not miss this event. The second division is almost becoming stale but it does show the effort the two clubs, KCB and Quins put into their feeder system (?). It also portrays the depth in the two teams.

The first division one will be a match to savour. To me, these were the form teams of the year in terms of structure, pattern, play and purpose. They are the two teams that worked at a system, not just at winning games. And they seem to be the teams with the strongest tacticians. All this will come to a head on Saturday and I do wish there is some decent prize money at stake for the teams to fight out. Because other than playing for pride, the game of rugby sometimes becomes very hard...

Do have a good week and enjoy your rugby.

Enterprise Final : Impala whipped by Quins

With the Enterprise Final the only meaningful rugby last weekend my
mama and I found ourselves watching a game which we thought was a gone
conclusion. How wrong we were as Quins brought down Impala much to our
shock and were straightforward winners with a 19-6 scoreline. This
team must have undergone a metamorphosis from the time Mean Machine
thrashed Quins in the league.

This past Saturday they were totally unrecognisable as they put Impala
in their place bringing them down to earth. I actually felt Machine
would have been worthy opponents in the final than Impala.

Across the border our Ugandan opponents are really working on building
their 15's rugby. Word has it they have lined up games next year with
Zimbabwe, Sweden and Germany. Also they have bagged a $50,000
sponsorship from Kooga. That is good for their 15's rugby. Hopefully
the KRFU are not asleep are working on similar programs for the 15's
Kenya Rugby team.

Have a good week and catch my mama and I at Mwenda's on Friday if I
don't put something before then.

Enterprise Cup Result

Harlequins 19 Impala 6

Kenya Rugby : Adios Tusker, Welcome Safaricom Sevens

A new day dawned for Kenya Rugby as the Safari Sevens got a new suitor. Michael Joseph or MJ as he is also known unveiled his new baby the "SAFARICOM SEVENS" in an event graced by the KRFU Chairman Richard Omwela this morning. The event will be held from June 4 to 6 (2010). MJ was smiling as he finally got hold of a most coveted prize. In the vision unveiled it is hoped that the top guns of World 7's rugby will grace this Kenyan event namely New Zealand All Blacks, South Africa, Fiji, England, Samoa and Argentina amongst other top professional rugby sides. The coming of Safaricom and timing is a major boost for Kenya Rugby ensuring that this is not a Safari Con.

With a major corporate player on board the Safari Sevens Ltd/Kenya Rugby Ltd can only hope that their efforts of raising the tournament to the next level will succeed. We here on this blog wish them success. A note to Safaricom is that they would do good to have a quiet word with the KRFU on the issue of transparency and accountability as this is the achilles heel of the KRFU. Talking to EABL for some tips now that they are less busy since Tusker Project Fame is over would be a good thing to do.

The sponsorship deal is worth Kshs 25 million ($ 333,333) and the Safaricom Safari Sevens joins an illustrious family that includes The Safaricom Marathon, Safaricom Sportsman of the Year Awards (SOYA) and the Safaricom Gusii Golden Series, among others.

This definitely is a big boost for a tournament that prodes itself in being Africa's Premium Sevens tournament that recently came under threat the recently IRB sanctioned TrustCo Namibia/Windhoek 7's.

Weekend Games

Two matches on the cards this weekend. The undercard is what has become the perennial rivalry in Kenyan second division rugby. KCB seconds take on Quins seconds in the final of the Mwamba Cup. The same teams muscled up in last year's final with KCB getting the better of Quins. What is it to be this time?

The main event sees Impala take on Kenya Harlequins. The two teams had varied yet equally difficult paths to the finals, coming form behind to win their semi final matches. This is the third meeting between these two sides, with Impala having gotten the better of Quins both times. In the first match Impala were head and shoulders above Quins. There would have been no dispute as to the outcome of that game as they dominated in all departments. In the second match I'd say Quins dominated the play, the territory, the possession, but scored no points. Impala in return had an effective and stifling defense, that failed to fold under onslaught after onslaught. So third time, what do I expect?

A tight game with plenty of scoring opportunities. The kickers will be key in the opening exchanges but as time wears on, effective finishing will matter and dominance in the set pieces. I expect Impala to totally disrupt these without dominating, but also not affording Quins a platform to play from. This in effect will give them more running ball and more opportunities as they have more effective finishers. I see both teams reaching double figures in scores and Impala running off with 8 points over Quins.

Do enjoy the matches. For those not their, I hope our Twitter correspondent will provide tweets from the venue, on our left column and final scores after the match.