The Safaricom Sevens set for Moi International Sports Centre in Kasarani from September 20-22 will be a full house, the tournament director Godwin Karuga has said.
Karuga expects at least sixteen teams in the main competition reserved for national teams of different countries.
He said they have sent out invitations to top African countries which include hosts Kenya, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Tunisia, Uganda and defending champions South Africa’s Emerging Spring Boks.
Belgium is the only country from Europe that has confirmed participation although Kenya Rugby Union(KRU) is still expecting more countries from the developed world to take part.
“This morning, we expect a full house of at least sixteen teams but we’ll be in a position to know who is who in the main competition by the end of the day,” he said.
Top eight
He confirmed that the top eight teams in the National Sevens Circuit have been entered for the three-day competition which starts with the Schools/Clubs Championships on September 20 before the kick-off of the main event the following day.
The Safaricom Sevens will come just after the conclusion of the National Sevens Circuit series which comes to an end this weekend with the Christies Sevens in Nairobi.
Safaricom Limited has injected Sh40 million into the sponsorship of the event according to KRU Communications Manager Michael Kwambo.
Kwambo said the event has also attracted women sides and countries like Kenya, Uganda and Zimbabwe are expected to field teams in this category.
He said in future the event might attract prize money if the union succeeds in clinching lucrative sponsorship packages.
KCB ready
Meanwhile, Kenya Commercial Bank are poised to wrestle the National Sevens Circuit title after the conclusion of the Prinsloo Sevens title at Nakuru Athletic Club at the weekend.
The bankers are on course to capture the Christie Sevens title having won the Prinsloo’s title at the weekend and coach Curtis Olago is strategising for a big win.
“We are planning a match at a time and even winning the Christie Sevens event is on our agenda,” Olago told FeverPitch at the Nakuru Athletic Club at the weekend.
KCB who defeated Impala RFC 26-5 in the finals are at the top of the table standings with 74 points ahead of Strathmore Leos’ 64 points.
National Sevens Circuit defending champions Kenya Harlequins are third (63) before Mwamba (60), Homeboyz (59) and Impala (57).
So far, the bankers have won two titles, the Driftwood Sevens and Prinsloo Sevens titles in Mombasa and Nakuru respectively.
Strathmore Leos won the Dala Sevens in Kisumu and Homeboyz lifted the Kabeberi Sevens title in Nairobi.
By BEN AHENDA, The Standard
