Zimbabwe and Uganda school sides will feature in the Safari Sevens schools category, scheduled for October 9-10 at Nyayo Stadium.
Kenya Rugby Union development manager Ronald Okoth said the two visiting teams will compete against Kenyan school teams in the two-day tournament.
The competition will feature Under-18 and Under-16 boys’ and girls’ categories, with teams drawn from the KRU regions of Rift Valley, Coast, Central, Eastern, Nyanza, defending champions Western and Nairobi.
Okoth said selection for the various regional teams is ongoing, with the competition expected to be highly competitive. The tournament will also serve as part of preparations for Kenya’s Under-16 team ahead of the Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
“From the various selection trials we have seen in various Sevens tournaments, the teams selected are going to be competitive. We have lots of talent in the country and all the teams we are expecting to play will be very strong,” said Okoth.
He said KRU has developed a depth chart to identify young talent for future international competitions and create a pathway for boys and girls into the national teams.
“It’s key we start identifying these players from a young age, mould and coach them, polish up their skill sets and enable them to become better players in the future when they join either Shujaa, Kenya Lionesses or the Simbas in the years to come,” added Okoth.
The Kenya Under-16 team selected for the Youth Olympics will compete at the Safari Sevens as part of its preparations for Dakar.
“We should be finalising the team in the next couple of weeks and then have them play at the Safari Sevens as part of their preparations for the Youth Olympics,” he noted.
Okoth is also confident the girls’ team selected for Dakar will make an impact.
“I have no doubt in my mind that the girls’ team will do the country proud. We have an exceptional group of players who will ruffle some of the big guns at the event.”
