Rugby in Kenya

• Kenya Cup Week 3

  Posted: April 29, 2008, 6:38 pm by DataMiner

  Nothing really unexpected happened this week. For me the shocker was the 50-3 thrashing of Nondies by Impala. Quins vs. Mwamba was always going to be close, but I thought 15-12 close. Not a 10 try extravaganza in contrasting styles. For KCB and Nakuru those results were expected. This leaves the table standings with Impala still at the top, Nakuru second, KCB leapfrog to third and Quins drop

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: April 29, 2008, 1:52 pm by DataMiner

  I have come across some interesting correspondence this past couple of weeks concerning the hard nature of rugby and what is rough and what is tough. Without going into specifics I will try and give my take on the whole thing. I played rugby from a very young age and was exposed to a lot of tough/rough play. It was normal to punch an opponent, tread on an opponent on the ground, tug a jersey

• Kenya Cup Results

  Posted: April 26, 2008, 11:21 pm by DataMiner

  Impala 50 Nondies 3, KCB 43 Mombasa 6, Mwamba 35 Quins 33, Nakuru 46 Strathmore 5.

• Weekend Games

  Posted: April 25, 2008, 6:16 pm by DataMiner

  Tomorrow sees the third round of the Kenya Cup league. Champions KCB take on visiting Mombasa, Strathmore host Nakuru, Quins are away to Mwamba and Impala face Nondies. All matches kick off at 4.30 p.m. Mean Machine have a rest day. KCB will have another romp in the park, Strathmore will continue with their baptism of fire. The Quins Mwamba game is a rematch of the Floodlit final that Mwamba

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: April 24, 2008, 6:47 pm by DataMiner

  Some days ago I wrote a post entitled "Building Rugby in Kenya" where I touched on rugby development in the country. It seems KRFU are on the ball on this one and recently introduced an Under 14's league where there are four teams participating. Apparently, the gentleman running the mini rugby, Eric Situma has convinced some clubs to take up his charges and host them as part of them. Impala

• Rugby League Tables

  Posted: April 23, 2008, 6:27 pm by ruggerbug

  Below are the current league tables as they stand, courtesy of KRFU. KENYA CUP LEAGUE Team P W D L F A Diff Bon Pts Impala 2 2 0 0 85 24 61 1 9 Nakuru 2 2 0 0 49 28 21 0 8 Quins 2 1 0 1 54 39 15 3 7 M. Machine 2 1 0 1 37 33 4 1 5 KCB 1 1 0 0 67 7 60 1 5 Mwamba 2 1 0 1 35 37 -2 0 4 Nondescripts 2 0 0 2 23 40

• Kenya Cup Week 2

  Posted: April 22, 2008, 1:46 pm by DataMiner

  As predicted, all manner of things happened here. KCB ran away with the Strathmore game, Quins felt the wrath of the "wanyore", Impala scraped through Machine and Nondies went down to Mwamba. It appears the race for the title has begun wide open. Impala top the table with Nakuru a close second. KCB come third with Quins, Mwamba and Machine following closely. Nondies, Mombasa and Strathmore

• Kenya Cup Results

  Posted: April 19, 2008, 1:35 am by DataMiner

  Nakuru 29 Quins 25, KCB 67 Strathmore 7, Mwamba 20 Nondies 12, Impala 15 Machine 12. More later.

• Our Playing Surfaces

  Posted: April 18, 2008, 6:35 pm by ruggerbug

  Whenever I watch any sport on television, I cannot help but marvel at the state of the playing surfaces.  Be it soccer, cricket or rugby, the surfaces are impeccable and kept in tip top condition.  In most sports, the surface will greatly affect the ability of the team or an individual to perform to their best.  You cannot expect to dribble a ball with your feet or a stick if the surface is

• Kenya Cup Second Leg

  Posted: April 18, 2008, 3:00 pm by DataMiner

  This weekend Strathmore face Champions KCB, Quins travel to Nakuru, Impala host Machine and Nondies host Mwamba. Other than KCB who will have an relatively easy time against Strathmore, all the other matches can go either way. Quins are good starters in the leagues, but Nakuru are also on top of their game at the moment. Impala had it easy last week, and I get the feeling this is a team on the

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: April 16, 2008, 3:14 pm by DataMiner

  My ramble for this week has to do with the role of the Government in Sports. I have touched on this briefly but I think with the new cabinet appointments, I should talk more about it. We now have a new minister(ess) for "Youth and Sports" in the name of Hellen Sambili. Mrs. Sambili is a former lecturer at Egerton University and a simple Google search will list several of her publications.

• Kenya Cup Week 1

  Posted: April 14, 2008, 1:47 pm by DataMiner

  It is actually a major climb down from the Super Series. From a ground full of spectators, now we only have the odd 20 or so at each ground shouting insults at both the players and the referee. Anyway, for me Mean Machine's win against Mwamba was an upset. Mwamba are a very solid team and may have underrated Machine and got punished for it. I also think Machine have played for many years

• Nondies 3 Nakuru 20

  Posted: April 12, 2008, 1:08 am by DataMiner

  More later.

• Kenya Cup Results

  Posted: April 12, 2008, 12:59 am by DataMiner

  Mwamba 15 Machine 25, Quins 29 Strathmore 10, Impala 67 Mombasa 12, Nondies, Nakuru when I get the score.

• Building Rugby in Kenya

  Posted: April 12, 2008, 6:30 pm by DataMiner

  This is an age old question that I am sure many people have asked themselves time and time again. how do you build the game of rugby in Kenya? As many as have asked this question, I'm sure as many answers have been forthcoming. I will just ramble a bit with my thoughts. Top down, versus bottom up, I favour bottom up. It involves more people, affects more people and is sustainable. What do I

• Media and Sports

  Posted: April 12, 2008, 4:07 pm by DataMiner

  Just in case you missed this, it is one of the things I believe in firmly. The media has a major role to play in local sports. Our local media only see sports as a minor news item and not anything worthy, whereas if they package their products better there will be better results for all. The biggest budgets by most companies is spent on advertising. I hear even during a depression,

• Kenya Cup Commences After Super Series

  Posted: April 10, 2008, 5:04 pm by DataMiner

  After an exciting 5 weeks of top flight rugby, the Kenya Cup league commences this weekend with four matches on the cards. This year's league has nine teams and they will play each other on a home and away basis. Champions KCB have a rest day as debutants Strathmore start off at home against Harlequins. Mombasa Sports Club are also at home to Impala and Nakuru to Nondescripts. The final game

• Rugby Refereeing In Kenya

  Posted: April 9, 2008, 4:01 pm by DataMiner

  This is one topic that is very dear to my heart. As controversial as it is, it is one of the ways in which rugby can grow. I am not one to allude to biase or otherwise from a referee, but I would surely believe our referees are incompetent. Not only are they incompetent, but the officials that manage them are incompetent as well. I've started at the end, let me go back to the beginning. A

• Ayimba's Job on the Line?

  Posted: April 8, 2008, 3:46 pm by ruggerbug

  Despite the fine performances of the Rugby Team, it is becoming increasingly clear that coach Benjamin Ayimba is under pressure to retain his job as the head coach of the National Rugby Seven-a-side team.  It is quite apparent that knives have been drawn out for him and it is only a matter of time before the forces show their hands.  The look on his face reminds me of another man under siege at

• BRSS Finals Lions vs. Rhinos

  Posted: April 7, 2008, 1:54 pm by DataMiner

  The Lions powered past the Rhinos in this final match 33-9. The match was initially billed to be an even contest but the Rhinos failed to come to the party. What they thought was their strong point was completely demolished and they were struggling from as early as mid way through the first half. The Lions came out firing on all cylinders. A contributor on this blog had said they were the

• Kenya Lose Plate Final

  Posted: April 6, 2008, 3:51 pm by DataMiner

  Kenya lost 12-14 to Tonga in the final of the plate competition in Adelaide. They had previously lost to South Africa in the main cup quarter finals, and beaten Cook Islands in the semi finals of the plate competition. The circuit now takes a break until May for the London leg. Kenya remain fifth in the standings.

• And Finally, Lions it is!

  Posted: April 6, 2008, 2:48 pm by DataMiner

  The Multipurpose Lions completely outplayed the Powerplus Rhinos in all departments to finally win one. The score of 31-9 is a very accurate reflection of the game that saw them dominate play from start to finish with the Rhinos barely getting out of first gear. The Rhinos looked a pale shadow of the side that also dominated the Cheetahs in a similar way just one week ago. A more detailed post

• Kenya in Quarter Finals

  Posted: April 5, 2008, 4:58 pm by DataMiner

  Kenya lost their last pool match 29-14 to Fiji but still qualified for the Quarter finals. The gritty Kenyans actually led 14-7 at one stage and seemed set to stage an upset. A yellow card to substitute Charles Kanyi proved the undoing and Fiji capitalised on that to score two converted tries in that period. Kenya will now meet Australia in the Quarter Finals. All the best lads.

• Kenya With One Leg in Quarter Finals

  Posted: April 5, 2008, 1:37 pm by DataMiner

  Kenya once more put up a disciplined performance to beat France 21-12 and England 17-10 to put one foot into the door for the Quarter final. With Fiji also winning their opening two matches against the same opponents, what remains is the decider between the two for who will top the pool. The winner of the pool will get a "relatively easier" quarter final opponent. We wish the lads well.

• BRSS Finals - Rhinos vs. Cheetahs

  Posted: April 4, 2008, 7:56 pm by DataMiner

  The Powerplus Rhinos take on the Multipurpose Lions in the last game of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series. I have come to realise that, like most things Kenyan, there are really no fundamentals behind any team's performance. It is purely how they wake up on the day that eventually makes the difference. Our teams do not have set or established patterns of play. They have a scanty game plan if any

• Kenya Ready for Australia Sevens

  Posted: April 4, 2008, 1:32 pm by DataMiner

  The Adelaide leg of the IRB Sevens Circuit commences tomorrow morning. Kenya are set and rearing to go. Going by last weekend's performance where they topped their pool and reached the quarter finals by conceding only two tries, no team is going to take them lightly. The pool has England, France and Fiji. On a good day, we are an even match for England and France. Last weekend we had a

• Who for the Prize Money?

  Posted: April 3, 2008, 6:52 pm by DataMiner

  Today I invite comments on who do you think will win the Bamburi Rugby Super Series on Saturday. The final is between Rhinos and Lions, the match to kick off at 4.00 p.m. Which players do you think will be selected to the National team and who has impressed you the most. Also, what do you think of the playing and coaching styles. I will give my views after you.

• Jua Cali to Perform at Bamburi

  Posted: April 2, 2008, 6:54 pm by DataMiner

  Local musician Jua Cali is set to perform at the closing of this year's Bamburi Rugby Super Series. The artist is set to perform his renowned hits like Kiasi, Bidii Yangu, Kamata Dame, Nipe Asali and Kwaheri to the huge crowd expected to attend the event. Given the kind of crowd the artiste draws on his own name, we should expect a massive attendance at the games where the Rhinos will fight it

• The Dilemma of African Sports

  Posted: April 1, 2008, 5:18 pm by DataMiner

  What does it take for a sport to be considered successful. Is it the number of players enrolled in the sport? Is it the number of people who watch the sport? Is it the amount of sponsorship the sport attracts? Is it the number or amount of media mentions the sports gets, or is it the number of trophies or awards the sport wins? I accept these are all relative items and are inter-related in

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Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.

The end of the fish cakes