NAIROBI, Kenya, January 13 – Kenya Sevens coach Benjamin Ayimba is wary of the challenge his team faces in the next two legs if the International Rugby Board (IRB) Sevens series.Ayimba who on Wednesday named the team that will tour Oceania and the United States believes that their pool assignments in Wellington and Las Vegas are massive challenges going by the quality of the sides they will be facing.
“In Las Vegas, Samoa will be a big challenge for us as well as Scotland who now have their players on contracts and looked very settled in the first two legs,” said Ayimba.
“In Wellington, we have England and America which will be a repeat of the pool stage in Dubai and Tonga will be a handful because they usually produce their best in New Zealand,” he added.
The former Kenya skipper has named an extensive squad including four traveling reserves with Dennis Mwanja the most notable inclusion after missing the whole of last season with a knee problem.
“The reason why we have introduced traveling reserves in the party because of the intensity of the games we are going to be involved in,” said the former Impala captain.
Biko Adema and Benedict Nyambu and Allan Onyango have also been recalled to the side that will prepare for both IRB legs by featuring in the Darwin Sevens tournament in Australia on January 23-24.
“Some of the teams that play in the IRB series are also playing in this tournament so there will be a lot of quality sides on show,” said Ayimba whose team will be playing under the name ‘Wakimbizi’.
Before heading to Wellington, the players have a one week break during which they will train alongside the Australian sevens team at a high performance centre.
The team departs on January 18 for the longest tour to date.
Squad:
Humphrey Kayange, Gibson Weru, Lavin Asego, Innocent Simiyu, Sidney Ashioya, Brian Nyikuli, Victor Oduor, Collins Injera, Horace Otieno, Biko Adema, Andrew Amonde, Benedict Nyambu
Travelling reserves:
Leon Adongo, Patrice Agunda, Dennis Mwanja, Allan Onyango
