Safaricom Sevens promises excitement for rugby lovers
Samoa Seven-aside team players performs a Haka after winning Safaricom Sevens rugby tournament on November 6, 2011 against Samurai at Nyayo National Stadium. Photo/FILE
What you need to know:
The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and the event’s sponsor Safaricom, have announced the security and ticketing plans for the championship which runs from September 21 to 23.
The venue will be the 30,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium for the second year in a row.
KRU hopes to be included on the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series.
Tournament organisers are in talks with rugby legend and former New Zealand great Jonah Lomu to grace the event as the chief guest.
Organisers have also scheduled subsidiary tournaments for schools, women and community rugby, in line with Safaricom’s and KRU's vision of spreading the game.
Excitement is building up for rugby enthusiasts a month before the 17th edition of Safaricom Sevens in Nairobi.
The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and the event’s sponsor Safaricom, have announced the security and ticketing plans for the championship which runs from September 21 to 23.
With KRU hoping to be included on the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series, the venue will be the 30,000-seater Nyayo National Stadium for the second year in a row.
Samurai International, who reached the finals in 1998 and last year, have named several New Zealand All Blacks and Fijian internationals in their squad.
Samurai, who lost to Samoa 12-31 in last year’s final, are among 10 teams that have confirmed participation.
Last year Samurai ended Kenya’s campaign for their seventh cup, with a 29-12 defeat in the semi-finals. Kenya had stopped Spain 17-12 in the quarterfinals.
The 2001 and 2002 champions, British Army, hope to make a comeback after a long absence.
The 2006 and 2007 champions, South Africa’s Emerging Boks, are the only other side besides the British Army and Samoa to have won the trophy twice.
Kenya halted the South African team’s charge to win back-to-back titles in 2008, 2009 and 2010, beating them in both finals.
Others in the contest are Kenya’s Shujaa, who won in 2000, Zimbabwe, who reached the finals in 1996, 2006 and 2007, Zambia, Namibia, Uganda and Grenoble.
In 2010, Safaricom entered into a three-year deal to be the title sponsor. KRU has already received a sponsorship cheque of Ksh32.6m ($390,000).
“As one of Africa’s premier Sevens tournament, we are working closely with Kenya Rugby Union to raise the standards of this event so that we can finally realise the dream of being incorporated into the IRB circuit,” says Nzioka Waita, Safaricom’s director of corporate affairs.
Tournament organisers are in talks with rugby legend and former New Zealand great Jonah Lomu to grace the event as the chief guest.
“In the time that this tournament has been in existence, we have seen the Safaricom Sevens grow by leaps and bounds. Our ultimate goal is to get admission into the IRB series while at the same time ensuring that our fans have a great experience,” says Mwangi Muthee, KRU chairman.
“This year’s tournament will also provide fans with the chance to see a revamped Kenyan national team.”
Organisers have also scheduled subsidiary tournaments for schools, women and community rugby, in line with Safaricom’s and KRU’s vision of spreading the game.
