KENYA RUGBY Official Newsletter August 2020

AP Warriors join KRU family “We’ve watched AP Having fully met the ’s eligibility Warriors go from criteria and ultimately the Ministry of Sport’s require- strength to ments for registration under the Sports Act, Admin- strength over the istration Police Warriors became the 49th full affiliate last three years of the during the organization’s they’ve been play- annual general meeting which was held online on ing, we are happy Wednesday 29 July 2020. to welcome them into the rugby fami- Four other clubs namely – Chuka Vikings, Vihiga ly.” - Kenya Rugby Granites, Meru and CITAM were unsuccessful in Union Chairman their bid for affiliation. Oduor Gangla com- The law enforcers play in the KRU Nationwide menting on AP War- league, which is the third tier of Kenyan club rugby riors’ affiliation competition and narrowly missed out on sustaining their push for promotion to the second tier KRU Championship after losing 20-9 to Shamas Rugby

In This Issue

 AP Warriors join KRU family

 Clubs wait longer for direction on return to play

 Plans revised for 2020/21 HSBC Sevens World Series

 Grace Okulu: Living her dream

 Back Page Story

Administration Police Warriors listening to Assistant Coach Edgar Abere during a past fix- tutre Kenya captains, coaches react to revised 2020/21 season Following the cancellation of the opening rounds of the 2020/21 HSBC Sevens World Series legs in Dubai and Cape Town, we sought out the reactions from the captains and coaches of the Kenya men’s and wom- en’s national sevens teams.

KEVIN MWEMA: ASST COACH: KENYA 7s:It’s a big blow to the sport in general, in terms of generating revenue and also teams Previous between KCB and Homeboyz that planned to use the 20/21 season to pre- pare for Tokyo 2020 Olympics games.”I be- lieve that though it was a hard decision to make it was the best for everyone involved in Clubs wait longer for direction the game .” on return to play ANDREW AMONDE: CAPT, KENYA 7s: “The cancellation cuts both ways. It’s a big Kenyan rugby clubs will have to wait longer to know whether or not they can con- setback to the team as more tournaments clude the season halted in March by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Govern- keep on getting cancelled. However, our ment restrictions therein put into effect to curb the spread of the virus. health being the most important things makes the cancellation understandable. Since there’s Addressing the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Annual General Meeting (AGM) held not much that has been achieved since virtually via Zoom on Wednesday 29 July 2020, Union boss Oduor Gangla says March, I’m hoping we will have the team they are still holding consultative meetings with the government authorities to ready when sports doors open next season.” know when it is safe for sports to return. FELIX OLOO, HEAD COACH, KENYA “Many are keen to know when rugby will return. I don’t have the answer today but WOMEN: “I was keen on ensuring we lift the we continue to engage the Government and soon there will be a pronouncement Dubai 7s tournament this year, after losing in on the way forward. After that we will sit and engage with stakeholders to see way last year’s finals. The ripple effects of the can- forward for our game,” Gangla said. cellation see us re-strategizing our plans. Re- The Union had made a decision to call an end to the Kenya Cup, gardless of the frustration, safety comes first, and Championship seasons after the stoppage occasioned by the pandemic, but a PHILADELPHIA OLANDO, KENYA WOMEN petition by clubs forced the Union to rescind the decision. CAPTAIN: “I urge players to keep training With virus cases still soaring, uncertainty on whether sports will continues this and keep fit since we still have tasks at hand year continue to grow slim. But, the Government through the Ministry of Sports set in 2021. That way, it will all be easier for us as up a committee to look at ways where sports can return safely. a team, when we eventually resume our train- ing session, as opposed to starting from the Non-contact sports were given a go ahead by the Ministry, but with rugby being a scratch,” highly contact sport, the protocols surrounding its return are set to be tougher.

-First ever virtual AGM

The Union held the AGM virtually for the first time ever, also due to the restrictions set by the government to contain the spread of the virus

- Timothy Olobulu/Capital FM Onyala Factfile

NAME

Vincent Onyala

DOB

10 December 1996

HIGH SCHOOL

Ruaraka High School CURRENT CLUB Vincent Onyala: From Northern KCB Rugby Club Suburbs to the world PREV CLUBS Vincent Onyala may be hitting the headlines now but has been bubbling under for a while. The Ruaraka High School alumnus has literally worked his way through Catholic Monks the ranks, taking his first plunge in club rugby at the Catholic University before making the move to current club side KCB where he has continued to grow in stat- Northern Suburbs Cubs ure after managing to overcome a series of niggling injuries that had blighted him in 2017. He was part of the 23-man KCB squad that lifted the 2019 Kenya Cup CLUB HONORS title. Kenya Cup Winner with His first Coach was Simon Jawichre back in 2007 at the then KCB age grade and KCB (2019) development side.

National Sevens Circuit He was also part of the Kenya U19s who finished third at the Rugby U19 winner with KCB (2019) Championship held in Harare, Zimbabwe in 2015 and only made his Kenya Sev- ens debut at the second leg of the 2018/19 HSBC Sevens World Series in Cape Most Valuable Player, Town where he scored four tries en route to a stellar maiden season that saw him National Sevens Circuit close out the campaign ass Shujaa’s top try scorer with 22 tries. 2019 With the 2019/20 season concluded early due to the COVID19 pandemic that has NATIONAL TEAM REP- disrupted sport globally, it was Onyala once again top of Shujaa’s tries, having RESENTATIVE HON- made a total of 13 touchdowns. ORS Commenting on his exploits, Onyala says, “Getting to be the team’s top try scorer 2015 Kenya U-19 two seasons in a row is something I am proud of and one that pushes me to keep working hard. Working away from my comfort zone is something I set out to 2018 Kenya Sevens achieve each day and when you step into the pitch, knowing you’re representing 2019 Kenya Fiffteens your country, you just have to give each match your best.”

And he puts in the extra shift. ” Buffa (Alvin Otieno) and I have had one on one sessions regularly, we agree on how to support each other on the pitch and if HSBC Sevens World Se- there are any hitches, we work around them so that we reap the best results. At ries Stats the end of the day, I always want to enjoy myself and the best way to do so, is when I express myself fully with the ball in hand and when I’m running in support 72 matches of my teammates.”

177 points Team Captain Andrew Noel Amonde believes Onyala is destined for better things, saying, ” Onyala has a brilliant mind and with that, his understanding of the game 35 tries is spectacular. That’s why he is always at the right place when we’re attacking and knows what to do when defending. He has been the perfect utility player for Shu- 0 yellow cards jaa, he executes his roles as a forward or back greatly. He will definitely get better with time seeing as this 2019/2020 season was only his second on the World Sev- 0 red cards ens Series. We still have a lot more that we need to achieve as a national team and I hope to see him continue reaching many more milestones.” KRU, partner to Contact Us provide quality assurance Give us a call for more information training for educators and Kenya Rugby Union RFUEA Ground, Ngong Rd trainers 48322 00100 Monday 13 July 2020 saw the Kenya Rugby Union organize a Workforce Contin- uing Professional Development webinar for its trainers and educators. +254 714 256 179

This Workforce CPD webinar was facilitated by Rugby Africa’s Regional Training [email protected] Manager for Africa Denver Wannies and Johnbosco Muamba, Rugby Regional Development Manager at the same organization. Visit us on the web at www.kru.co.ke Commenting on the webinar which attracted a total of 9 participants , Wannies said, ” “It is important to understand the importance of having compliant educators and trainers that role out training and education in the union. Going forward there will be focus on good quality educators and trainers and this CPD webinar was aiming at doing that. The educators and trainer who delivered here will now re- ceive a Quality Assurance Report that will help with re-licensing when they are up for that.There are a number of these webinars that will be rolled out in the region in the next few months and we are hoping that our unions and the game will bene-

World Rugby rates Kenya- rivalry among big- gest in women’s game

World Rugby takes a look at some of the biggest rivalries featuring women’s teams across both sevens and 15s.

Last year was a bumper one for the female players of Kenya and Ugan- da as the returned following a four-year hiatus.

The home and away tests, played in and , were both won by Kenya’s Lionesses and served as vital preparation for the 2019 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.

At the continental competition in Brakpan, South Africa, which doubled as a qualifying tournament for RWC 2021, the two teams met for a third time in two months and it was Kenya who again took the spoils.

Despite the Lionesses’ recent success, it was the Lady Cranes of Uganda who won the neighbours’ first three meetings, ensuring they won the inaugural Elgon Cup in 2006 and retained it two years later.

Since 2009, however, when a 38-5 victory helped Kenya secure a 43-17 aggregate victory, the trophy has left the Lionesses’ posses- sion only once, in 2013, when Uganda won 30-26 over the two matches. In total, Kenya have won 13 tests to Uganda’s eight, with two draws.

Although the countries share a land border they have only faced each other in a World Rugby sevens event once, with that match being played on a different continent.

In April 2019, Kenya beat their neighbours 24-0 in Pool B of the women’s World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier before being beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals.