Nairobi, Kenya, April 30- Teams gearing up for the 11th Bamburi Rugby Super Series (BRSS) have intensified training ahead of the competition that kicks-off on Saturday.
Six Kenyan franchises and two Ugandan outfits will contest for honours with the 15-a-side event that will welcome action with four games in Nairobi, Nakuru and Kampala.
Title sponsors Bamburi Cement handed players’ and referees’ kit worth Sh4m that will be used during the month-long tournament.
Kenyan teams Papa, Nyumbu, Ndovu, Kengewa, Kiboko and Mamba alongside Ugandan franchises Rwenzori and Victoria will scrum for the title.
The 11th edition will be different from the previous tournaments since the six reconstituted Kenyan Franchises adopted Swahili names.
Impala, Nondies and Quins form Nyumbu (Wildebeest), Mwamba, KCB and Homeboyz constitute Papa (Shark) while Nakuru, Egerton University, Moi University, Eldoret and Kitale form Ndovu (Elephants).
The greater Nairobi Universities franchise will be known as Kengewa (Hawks) as Kisumu and Kakamega form the Kiboko (Hippos) with the Coast franchise consisting of Mombasa Sports Club Shepherds, Spartans and Mombasa Polytechnic is Mamba (Crocodile).
The Ugandan franchises names Victoria and Rwenzori remain the same with the competition running for five weekends in five venues, namely Nairobi, Kampala, Mombasa, Mumias and Nakuru. The finals will be held on June 1 at the RFUEA grounds in Nairobi.
“We would like to thank our title sponsors, Bamburi Cement Limited for this kit that they have handed over to us today. This will be without doubt enhance the stature and morale of the BRSS game, as each player will have all the necessary gear to compete successfully,” Godwin Karuga the Tournament Director at Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) said of the kit donation.
Union boss Mwangi Muthee said they were prepared to take the 15-a-side game to the next level as the tournament sets the stage in selecting the best talent for the national team.
“We would like to see the national team grow, become stronger and increase in popularity and our goal of participating in the 15’s Rugby World Cup is within reach,” the chairman added.
Pools and fixtures
Pool A: Nyumbu, Papa, Victoria, Kiboko
Pool B: Ndovu, Rwenzori, Kengewa, Mamba
Saturday 4 May 2013
POOL A: Papa v Kiboko, 2.00pm, Nairobi
POOL A: Nyumbu v Victoria, 4.00pm, Nairobi
POOL B: Ndovu v Mamba, 4.00pm, Nakuru
POOL B: Rwenzori v Kengewa, 5.00pm, Kampala
Saturday 11 May 2013
POOL B: Kengewa v Ndovu, 2.00pm, Nairobi
POOL A: Papa v Victoria, 4.00pm, Nairobi
POOL B: Mamba v Rwenzori, 4.00pm, Mombasa
POOL A: Kiboko v Nyumbu, 4.00pm, Mumias
Saturday 18 May 2013
POOL B: Kengewa v Mamba, 2.00pm, Nairobi
POOL A: Victoria v Kiboko, 3.00pm, Kampala
POOL A: Nyumbu v Papa, 4.00pm, Nairobi
POOL B: Rwenzori v Ndovu, 5.00pm, Kampala
Saturday 25 May 2013
SEMI FINAL 1: 4.00pm, Nairobi
SEMI FINAL 2: 5.00pm, Kampala (In the event that Ugandan team reaches semi-final)
Saturday 1 June 2013
THIRD PLACE PLAYOFF: Nairobi, 5.30pm, KRU grounds
FINAL: Nairobi, 7.30pm, KRU grounds
