Rugby in Kenya

• The war must begin

  Posted: March 30, 2009, 10:31 pm by Just a Fan

  Rugby made the front page of the Daily Nation with a picture of a Kenyan player steaming through a weak attempted tackle from a collapsed, panting and demoralized “all black” A win against New Zealand at any level of rugby is an incredible achievement by any team and especially so, for the bunch of amateur recreational players playing for Kenya. It depicts triumph when facing insurmountable odds

• Hong Kong Rugby 7's

  Posted: March 30, 2009, 6:54 pm by DataMiner

  Well, we came, we saw, we conquered.  I was wondering why the techinical set a lower target of 14 points for two legs when there are more points on offer in Hong Kong.  It is a bit difficult doing this post as it is becoming frustratingly the same.  That we are on a high is not in doubt, but we also seem to be in a rut!  We need to find a way out as the heartache is becoming too much.All the same

• Weekend Games

  Posted: March 30, 2009, 2:46 pm by DataMiner

  Firstly an apology.  I was indisposed over the weekend and was not able to post the results of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series immediately.  However, better late than never.Sharks 38 Scorpions 12.  A much improved (changed?) Scorpions side tried to put up a fight this weekend.  However, Sharks barely had to get into fourth gear to win this one.  I think they were more suprised than challenged.  

• Hong Kong 7's Update - Kenya 19 USA 12

  Posted: March 28, 2009, 3:46 pm by ruggerbug

  We didn't really struggle, and did just enough to get through.

• Hong Kong 7's Update- Kenya 31 Scotland 7

  Posted: March 28, 2009, 11:04 am by ruggerbug

  A disciplined and controlled performance has given us this comprehensive win. Next the USA.

• Bamburi Rugby SS - Week 2

  Posted: March 27, 2009, 8:48 pm by DataMiner

  The pace picks up with the second round of matches.  You can see the detailed pool standings here.  Scorpions open against Sharks at 12.00 p.m. at the RFUEA grounds.  Cheetahs follow at 2.00 p.m. against Victoria of Uganda.  The last match kicking off at 4.00 p.m. will see the defending champions Lions take on last years runners up, the Rhinos.  In Kampala Rwenzori will host Buffaloes.I was 100%

• Hong Kong 7's Update - Kenya 17 West Indies 10

  Posted: March 27, 2009, 3:49 pm by ruggerbug

  A slow start in wet conditions saw us trail 0-5 at half time, courtesy of a try straight from the kick off.  We were also extremely error prone, fumbling the ball on every contact.  A more disciplined approach in the second half saw us score three tries before the Windies scored their last try.  Try scorers were Collins Injera, Humphrey Khayange and Lavin Asego.  Next games against USA and

• Hong Kong Rugby Sevens 2009

  Posted: March 26, 2009, 5:15 pm by ruggerbug

  With local rugby action having begun, the rugby activity has picked up some.  But our heroes are never to be forgotten.  They have landed in Hong Kong and are ready to continue with their fine form in this tournament.  All the World Cup Squad is in Hong Kong save for Biko Adema who has pressing commitments back home.  He has been replaced by Joshua Gathumbi, himself no stranger to the IRB Sevens

• Sharks off to a flying start, Kenya 7's in Far East Fiesta

  Posted: March 26, 2009, 7:12 am by Back2Besics

  I have been down with some serious flu since Saturday after watching the Sharks down the Lions in the Super Series. Do bear with me as I gather the energy to recover. My mama has been all good to me as she has nursed me through this ailment. Sometimes I wonder what thought goes through her mind. Then again that's a story for another day I guess. The focus remains rugby....at least mine.Last

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: March 25, 2009, 11:58 am by DataMiner

  I'm torn in between today.  A scathing attack or a cry for help.  The week has been good, let me not spoil it.  I was just wondering what the aim of any Union is in Rugby?  To whom are they beholden?  I am not one to cast aspersions on characters, however I often get extremely perturbed at goings on.  Today I am prompted by a comment left on a post by RB late last week.  It appears to me that the

• BRSS - Week 1

  Posted: March 23, 2009, 1:19 pm by DataMiner

  For all my misgivings, it was quite a weekend.  I expected teams to be out of sorts, out of sync, out of breath and basically out of it, being the first encounters of the year.  Maybe they were all at the same level, making it easier for them to cope with each other.Rhinos vs. Scorpions:  Not much to say about this.  One way traffic all the way.  After the Lions and the Buffaloes have taken the

• Rugby Super Series Result

  Posted: March 22, 2009, 12:10 pm by ruggerbug

  Rwenzori 13 Victoria 0

• Rugby Super Series Results

  Posted: March 21, 2009, 1:51 am by ruggerbug

  Rhinos 62 Scorpions 0 Buffaloes 14 Cheetahs 11 Sharks 11 Lions 6 Rwenzori 13 Victoria 0.

• A Parallel Union?

  Posted: March 21, 2009, 3:35 pm by ruggerbug

  I picked this up from this post by B2B.  It is good that the Rugby Series is here upon us, but the structuring of the teams has got me thinking.  Are we building a parallel union through the Rugby Super Series?Picture this, the Kenya Cup Competition has eight teams in it.  The teams play each other in a home and away format over an extended period of time.  There is no final hence no "Grand Event

• Bamburi Rugby Super Series

  Posted: March 20, 2009, 5:33 pm by DataMiner

  This kicks off tomorrow.  A late withdrawal of the Tanzanian team, the Twigas has seen a hasty cobbling up of a Scorpions Franchise.  The Super Series Site is not offering too much information save saying it is a franchise composed of Western Province and Mombasa RFC??? does that make any sense to anyone?  Though it was a natural progression since Nakuru have always dominated the Buffaloes (

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: March 19, 2009, 11:59 am by DataMiner

  A comment a visitor to this blog left yesterday turned my mind onto something I've been thinking about for a long time, and kept pushing it back.  He questioned my rugby credentials and by extension my right to post what I post on this blog.  Maybe in his opinion I was saying nonesense, but I felt he should be more engaging, or read my post in it's entirety before deciding my best claim to rugby

• Kenya Rugby 7's : Safaricom muddle cash awards

  Posted: March 18, 2009, 10:41 am by The Real KRFU

  As accolades continue to pour in congratulating the world class and giant killing Kenya 7's team, Safaricom did make their pledge to reward the team with cash awards for reaching the semi-final of the Rugby World Cup 7's 2009. This was a kind gesture indeed by the giant money minting mobile telephony/cash transfer company.However Safaricom at the same time showed their naivety about team sports

• The Machine is ready to take on Kenya Rugby

  Posted: March 17, 2009, 11:04 pm by Back2Besics

  Its no hidden secret that Engineering is the fulcrum of Mean Machine (and has always been according to the IOD's) but I will not say it too loudly lest it annoys the rest of the rugby comrades in campus.Congratulations to my erstwhile colleague Wilson K'Opondo better known as 'Kopo' for having been named captain of the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine RFC. Well in my guy. One for you at

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: March 13, 2009, 7:45 pm by DataMiner

  Albeit late, but here all the same.  A friend of mine says he's had a one week or*#$m, but that's him.  Mine was a different kind of high.  The realisation that we are now in the big leagues and nothing should hold us back.  I will always refer to this post because I think it sums us up completely.  TRKRFU in his post also mentions this in the previous post.  We must now measure ourselves by the

• Congratulations are in order but Transparency required from KRFU

  Posted: March 11, 2009, 2:56 pm by The Real KRFU

  This will be a good year for the KRFU Board or office.The Chairman made it back to office for another two year term.The government finally recognised the rugby game and a State House invite was conjured where a flag was presented.Safaricom and Telkom Orange came aboard as sponsors for the Sevens teamThe Junior World Rugby Trophy will be held in Kenya.The Safari Sevens promises to be bigger than

• Rugby World Cup Sevens

  Posted: March 10, 2009, 8:52 pm by Just a Fan

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• Desert Storm 2 : Mission Accomplished ?

  Posted: March 10, 2009, 12:01 pm by Back2Besics

  Shebeen Shebeen Shebeen! That was the place to hang out and watch the rugby action in Dubz. The Rugby World Cup was the bomb and awesome. The Kenya 7's or like they like to call themselves 'The Virgin Boys' made me and many other Kenyans very proud. To quote that government (50%) mouthpiece 'NAJIVUNIA KUWA MKENYA' meaning 'I PRIDE MYSELF WITH BEING A KENYAN'.My rugby weekend started on Thursday

• 7's World Cup Wrap Up

  Posted: March 10, 2009, 11:58 am by DataMiner

  A good wrap up of the tournament is on the official RWC7's site.  At least 51% of those who took the poll also felt a quarter final placing would be good enough for us.  That was based on the recent trend in our performances wrapped up here and here after San Diego.  Well our performance did not really change, we just won the one game that mattered.  We were never going to put up two similar

• 7's World Cup Update - Kenya 0 Argentina 12

  Posted: March 7, 2009, 7:53 pm by ruggerbug

  They were just too much for us, more composed and more experienced. The end of our fairy tale run and I concede, a tournament well played. It's going to be a good night. From The Sevens it's goodbye.

• 7's World Cup Update - Kenya 26 Fiji 7

  Posted: March 7, 2009, 5:03 pm by ruggerbug

  A brilliant display and two crucial assists by Victor Oduor gave us this win. Try scorers Lavin Asego, Biko Adema, Humphrey Khayange and Collins Injera.

• 7's World Cup Update

  Posted: March 6, 2009, 9:59 pm by ruggerbug

  We're through. We meet Fiji in the last Quarter Final at 13.34 EAT. Do or die time tomorrow. For now I hit the town.

• 7's World Cup Update - Kenya 7 England 26

  Posted: March 6, 2009, 9:29 pm by ruggerbug

  We totally failed to fire.  Our defence was just not there and I think the stage got to us.  Despite having met the likes of Gollings, Amor, Tait and other before, Tom Vandell and Isoa Damudamu made us look like amateurs.  Now we wait to see who's best second and if we qualify for the cup proper.Update on that to follow shortly.

• Rugby 7's World Cup - Update from the Streets

  Posted: March 6, 2009, 6:45 pm by DataMiner

  It appears as much as the rugby people themselves don't like it, they are gathering more and more of a following.  Just walking from bar to bar yesterday and today, all screens were on the 7's World Cup and people eagerly awaiting to see Kenya play.  They had no clue about the schedule but were very aware that the National Flag is flying high.  And after our recent exploits, expectations are good

• 7's World Cup Update - Kenya 43 Hong Kong 7

  Posted: March 6, 2009, 4:06 pm by ruggerbug

  A false start once more going down 0-7 before settling down and doing the business.  Hong Kong were never really in it.  Try scorers Lavin Asego with 2 tries, Gibson Weru with 2, Sidney Ashioya, Horace Otieno and Collins Injera with 1 each.  Asego with 4 successful kicks at goal.  Man of the match perhaps the captain Humphrey Khayange, leading from the front as usual.After England have struggled

• 7's World Cup Update

  Posted: March 6, 2009, 2:17 pm by ruggerbug

  In barely an hour we take on Hong Kong in our second match.  Looking at them yesterday there was not much in it and they seem to think they can be physical.  We should not have any problem putting them away and preparing for England later in the day.After the match yesterday the players were honoured by great inspirational speeches by the Minister for Sports, Helen Sambili and athletics icon Paul

• RUgby 7's Update: Kenya 29 Tunisia 7

  Posted: March 5, 2009, 7:39 pm by ruggerbug

  A satisfactory performance.  Not outstanding or flash but just enough to get the blood flowing.  Humphrey Khayange led from the front by scoring the first try, his brother Collins Injera the next three and finished off by Sidney Ashioya.  Lavin Asego with two conversions.  Only worry is the lack of decisive tackling.  The Tunisians were actually having a go at us and getting through.Next games

• 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens

  Posted: March 4, 2009, 6:29 pm by ruggerbug

  The draw is as below.Pools in DubaiA New Zealand, Tonga, Gulf States; ItalyB Fiji, France, USA, GeorgiaC South Africa, Scotland, Canada, JapanD Samoa, Australia, Portugal, IrelandE England, Kenya, Tunisia, Hong KongF Argentina, Wales, Zimbabwe, UruguayKenya will play Tunisia at 16.10 on 5/03/09, Hong Kong at 12.12 on 6/03/09 and England at 18.06 on the same day in the preliminary matches.  Only

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: March 4, 2009, 5:01 pm by DataMiner

  On the eve of the 7's World Cup, I only think it fair to re-visit my favorite topic, 7's vs. 15's.  Kenya Rugby (let me not call it 7's) has qualified for the third straight time to challenge for the Rugby Sevens World Cup.  This is no mean feat and a sustained effort has been maintained to ensure our qualification.  Adequate resources have been availed to the team and "no stone left unturned" to

• 7's World Cup - Here We Come

  Posted: March 2, 2009, 3:57 pm by DataMiner

  Further to sustained griping by the KRFU, players, media and even this blog, the Governement seems to have finally done something.  Finer details are here.  This is the first time the Government has officially done something for the team and even given them a hefty send off.  I think the boys are very comfortable this time round.  Emirates have flown them First Class to Dubai and they are staying

Blah blah blah

Fish cakes

Alas a fish cake.

Yet more fish cakes

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

The end of the fish cakes