Rugby in Kenya

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: June 30, 2011, 3:16 pm by DataMiner

  Though surprised by our result last weekend, I have been even more surprised at our response to the loss and our lack of ownership for that lost. We do not seem to have analyzed it in the right fashion, though I am only talking from a layman's point of view. Word has it that the Zimbos brought in all their professionals and that turned the game. The guys were so good we could not tackle or

• Victoria Cup: Kenya 24 Zimbabwe 42

  Posted: June 27, 2011, 3:02 pm by DataMiner

  Thinking more with my heart than with my head once more. Can't really tell what happened, will wait to hear about the game. Though that our forwards scored most of our tries is quite telling. And that our backs were leaking is also a huge indictment. Lots of work to do, just hope we know what to do.Have a good week.

• Weekend Games

  Posted: June 24, 2011, 4:38 pm by DataMiner

  Kenya take on Zimbabwe in Harare in the second fixture of the Victoria Cup. Zimbabwe already have a headstart with a 25-15 victory over Uganda away a fortnight ago and will be determined to lay last year's ghosts to rest. Kenya do not have it easy either with last year's victory the only one they have ever achieved on Zimbabwean soil.Both sides play a very similar game and are both gifted with

• Flood has faith in Tuilagi

  Posted: June 23, 2011, 4:50 pm by guestblogger

  England fly-half Toby Flood has insisted that centre Manu Tuilagi has what it takes to make the grade at International level.The Tigers' centre has had a stand out début season and has been selected for Martin Johnson's provisional 45 man World Cup training squad ahead of the tournament in New Zealand which begins on September 9th.Tuilagi's season was slightly marred after he was found guilty of

• MUTHEE BOOTS OMWELA AND CRONIES FROM SAFARICOM SAFARI SEVENS GRAVY TRAIN

  Posted: June 22, 2011, 10:22 pm by The Real KRFU

  There's a new sheriff in town and his name is Michael Mwangi Muthee. His guns are loaded and firing deadly rounds in all directions. This time he has fired a bullseye straight into the Safaricom Safari Sevens Tent and the casualties are many. The former GM can painfully can testify to that.Dumped out of the committee mercilessly are immediate KRFU/Safaricom Safari Sevens Chairman Richard Omwela

• Ireland name preliminary squad

  Posted: June 22, 2011, 5:56 pm by guestblogger

  Ireland head coach Declan Kidney has named his preliminary 43-man World Cup squad, including a number of players battling back from long-term injuries. The squad will meet up to go through a conditioning program ahead of their pre-World Cup warm-up games this summer, before being whittled down to the 30 players that will travel to New Zealand to take on the world's best. Long-term injury victims

• Otieno Names Squad for Maiden Game

  Posted: June 21, 2011, 6:25 pm by ruggerbug

  Coach Michael "Tank" Otieno has named his maiden squad for this year's assignment. With no fewer than seven "rookies" in the squad, his eyes are firmly set on the future and blooding in new players. The squad is as follows.Forwards: Joel Ng'ang'a, Vincent Ongera, Daniel Kiptoo,(UAP Rhinos),Dennis Abenga (SDV Transami Cheetahs), Moses Amusala (Lions), Anthony Mutai (UAP Rhinos), Michael Aung (

• Stevens gets England call ahead of World Cup

  Posted: June 21, 2011, 6:18 pm by guestblogger

  Matt Stevens has been rewarded for his fine form in the Churchill Cup with a recall to England's 45-man provisional squad ahead of the World Cup.The prop was instrumental in the England Saxons' recent victory in the tournament, regularly dominating his opponents at scrum-time as well as providing impetus in the loose.Stevens returned to the game in January after serving a two-year ban failing a

• Shane Horgan ruled out of Rugby World Cup

  Posted: June 20, 2011, 6:29 pm by guestblogger

  Irish veteran Shane Horgan's hopes of forcing his way back into Ireland's World Cup squad after being ruled out of the entire build-up to the tournament. The winger has had somewhat of a resurgence this season, scoring nine tries in 26 appearances for Leinster, as well as helping the side to their second Heineken Cup title after starting in the 33-22 final victory over Northampton. Those betting

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: June 17, 2011, 1:17 pm by DataMiner

  The National XV team acquitted itself fairly well last weekend and I believe there were valuable lessons learned. Least of which should be the mindset in which to approach matches. Not to say we do not have this, but we at times seem to struggle when facing much weaker opposition due to possible assumptions or otherwise. Hailed variously has been the magnificent defensive effort and I'll join

• New Zealand face selection challenge

  Posted: June 16, 2011, 7:51 pm by guestblogger

  New Zealand face selection challengeNew Zealand boss Graham Henry believes he and the All Black selectors face an uphill battle to ensure all their squad receive enough time on the field ahead of the World Cup. The hosts play five tests ahead of the tournament which begins September 9th with their match against Tonga in Auckland and Henry believes the selectors will have to balance naming their

• Leicester bolster their ranks

  Posted: June 15, 2011, 5:16 pm by guestblogger

  Aviva league winners Leicester have boosted their ranks with a triple signing of three of England's most exciting prospects. Kieran Brookes, Graham Kitchener and Micky Young will all link up with their new club after competing for England Saxons in the Churchill Cup after agreeing to move to Welford Road. The youngsters are all highly thought of by their clubs and by their country and Leicester

• Barnes seeks neurologists help

  Posted: June 13, 2011, 11:17 pm by guestblogger

  Waratahs centre Berrick Barnes has sought the help of a neurologist amidst fears his career could be cut short because of the headaches he suffers with.The Wallabies player has endured a difficult season and has had to sit through prolonged spells on the sidelines because of a knock to the head he suffered against the Queensland Reds in February.Since then Barnes has been forced from the field

• Williams seeks All Blacks spot

  Posted: June 13, 2011, 10:16 pm by guestblogger

  Ali Williams believes he can force his way into New Zealand head coach Graham henry’s thinking ahead of the World Cup later this year.The lock has endured a torrid time over the past 18 months after a succession of serious Achilles injuries left his career hanging in the balance, but now is he is back playing with the Blues, the All Black insists he has what it takes to make the final squad – an

• Kenya 27 Pumas 41

  Posted: June 13, 2011, 3:08 pm by DataMiner

  A very good show and the welcome news of the technical assistance will help us improve on where we are failing. Very impressive was the defensive effort, our offense needs a lot of work. The forwards were outstanding in the loose, not so in the set pieces. The backs when they put their minds to it were awesome in defense.Our brothers next door have lost the opening game of the Victoria Cup.

• Weekend Games

  Posted: June 10, 2011, 4:38 pm by DataMiner

  Kenya take on the Mpumalanga Ford Pumas at 4.00 p.m. tomorrow. If the match on Wednesday was a sneak preview we are in for a good game. Unfortunately I will not hold my breath too much but once more look out for the positives that come out of the game... and our potential future stars. Also looking out for the ravages of natural attrition and who it affects.Have a good weekend.

• KRFU GM SENT ON COMPULSORY LEAVE

  Posted: June 9, 2011, 1:12 am by Back2Besics

  Auka Gecheo is no more at the KRFU. The new broom has swept him first. One down and now three to go. The former Machine back has been steeped in controversy and corruption. Pole comrade.

• England needs to break Heineken Cup hoodoo

  Posted: June 9, 2011, 7:36 pm by guestblogger

  English rugby union sides have not succeeded in the Heineken Cup in recent years, but Harlequins full-back Mike Brown reckons this will come to an end next season. Wasps were the last English side to win the competition back in 2007 but since then Munster, Leinster and Toulouse succeed in the following three competitions. In the 2011 competition it was Leinster again who came out victorious,

• Kenya XV 22 Pumas 48

  Posted: June 9, 2011, 4:04 pm by DataMiner

  Very many positives from the game and I take great heart in our performances. We were very weak in the obvious places but surprisingly strong in others. No need to talk much about the set pieces, but we can definitely improve on our line outs. We were able to recycle the ball well and get it out of the scrums under pressure. However we could not do much after that and resorted to how what we

• Weekly Ramble

  Posted: June 8, 2011, 4:20 pm by DataMiner

  Becoming more of a monthly one, but hey...Kenya A face Mpumalanga Pumas today in a one off match as Kenya prepares to face them on Saturday. For me, it is a nothing match. The score does not mean anything whatsoever to me. What matters most would be what we learn out of that game. Last year's match I believed helped us in winning the twin diadems of the Elgon and Victoria Cups. And we need

• Bamburi Rugby Super Series: Finals

  Posted: June 6, 2011, 8:02 pm by DataMiner

  And the closest and most evenly contested to date. The Rhinos have made this tournament their own, but the rest are not taking it lying down. Contrasting styles really, but just reward to both teams for their mode of play. The Cheetahs were disciplined in defence and gave away few penalties, but perhaps this allowed the Rhinos to play and they were rewarded with tries, and that's all they

• Weekend Games

  Posted: June 3, 2011, 5:58 pm by DataMiner

  It's the finals of the Bamburi Rugby Super Series with the defending champions UAP Rhinos taking on SDV Transami Cheetahs. Whilst the Cheetahs had to weather a vicious fight back from the Sharks, the Rhinos had a relatively easy walk in the park. I don't know if the one weekend's break has given them rest, or confused them by making them work harder. Only time will tell.My money's on the

• Tank gets down to serious business with Kenya Rugby Fifteens

  Posted: June 3, 2011, 11:06 am by Back2Besics

  National XV's coach Michael Tank Otieno has his work cut out for him over the next two months. With the sevens team out of the limelight the fifteens squad now have a chance to regain their shine. The former Kenya fullback has a hard task starting with the two match build up against South African provincial side Mpumalanga Pumas. The last encounter between the two sides saw the Pumas ran away

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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