NAIROBI, Kenya, September 10 – Ten foreign teams have confirmed their participation at the 18th Safaricom Safari Sevens slated from September 20 to 22 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Australia Renegades are the top bill, and they will be joined by the England Royals.
Other international teams that have confirmed participation include Belgium,
Grenoble from France, Rwanda, leading invitational side Samurai, Uganda, Zambia, South Africa’s Western Province and Ponsonby from New Zealand.
These teams will be joined by hosts Kenya, Shujaa and a Kenya Sevens Academy side which consists of U-19 players.
This will be the first assignment for Academy as they gear towards the 2014 Youth Olympics in China where Kenya and South Africa will represent the African continent after receiving automatic qualification.
This year’s competition also features the newly introduced clubs category which will see the top eight sides from the just concluded Safaricom Sevens Series battle it out with four international sides in a 12 team competition to be played concurrently with the main international tournament.
The Schools U-19 competition once again features, seven regional Kenyan teams namely Western, Nyanza, Eastern, Central, Coast, Nairobi, Rift Valley having confirmed their participation alongside Rwanda and Uganda.
Tournament organizers are awaiting confirmations from Tanzania and Zimbabwe.
In the veteran category, defending Champions Impala RFC are top seed for this year’s event with bitter rivals Kenya Harlequin seeded second.
Other confirmed sides include Pwani Vets, Nondies, Les Gaulois, Uganda Vets, KCB Vets and Tanzania’s Dar Barians.
– By Alex Isaboke