The Kenya Rugby Union has unveiled a preliminary squad of 35 players in preparation for the upcoming Rugby Africa Sevens tournament scheduled to take place in Harare, Zimbabwe on September 16-17.
This year’s edition of the tournament serves as the African Qualification Tournament for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. Kenya has been placed in Pool B alongside Zambia, Namibia, and Nigeria.
In Pool A, South Africa, Madagascar, Tunisia, and Ivory Coast will compete, while Pool C features Uganda, hosts Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, and Algeria.
Kenya’s objective is to recapture the Africa 7s title and secure a ticket to the Paris Olympics. However, the challenge ahead is formidable, particularly from South Africa, as they missed out on finishing in the top four during the 2022-2023 World Sevens Series season, which would have granted them an automatic qualification.
The 2022-2023 World Sevens Series saw New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and France clinch the top four spots, thereby earning automatic Olympic slots. Australia, finishing fifth, also secured a spot thanks to France hosting the tournament.
The second and third teams in the Rugby Africa Sevens will progress to the 2024 Final Olympic Qualification Tournament.
The majority of the selected players are newcomers, with a few seasoned athletes retained, including Billy Odhiambo, Vincent Onyala, Herman Humwa, and Daniel Taabu.
Additionally, Brian Tanga, Amon Wamalwa, and Tony Omondi, who have previous HSBC Sevens World Series experience, have been included in the squad.
Notably, Daystar Falcons, a National Wide side, has contributed three players, Samuel Ovwamu, Floyd Wabwire, and Patrick Odongo, to the provisional squad. These players will aim to impress head coach Kevin Wambua for a chance to secure a spot in the final selection.
The Kenya 7s Provisional Squad includes players from various clubs, highlighting the depth of talent in the Kenyan rugby scene. The team will continue its preparations with the goal of performing admirably in the Rugby Africa Sevens tournament and securing a pathway to the coveted Paris Olympics.
