Rugby in Kenya
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Wales legend set for swansong
Posted: October 31, 2011, 1:29 am by guestblogger
By Will Taylor
Shane Williams is expected to play his last ever international game for Wales against Australia.
The game against the Wallabies will take place in Cardiff on December 3, and Williams has made it clear that he would love to be involved.
The 34-year-old record try scorer announced that he would retire from the international game at the end of the World Cup.
But the chance to play his farewell game on home soil in front of Welsh fans would be an opportunity he could not turn down.
“I am going to make myself available for this game,” Williams, who has 86 caps for his country said. “If selected, I want to play.
“If I am picked, I will treat it in the same way I have always treated Wales’ games – but it will be a sad day for me. In fact, I’ll be devastated.
“But to bow out in front of Welsh fans and my family and friends would be like a dream.”
Sports betting pundits note how the Welsh enjoyed a hugely successful World Cup, in which they exceeded the expectations of many.
Williams helped guide his side to a fourth place finish, after they were knocked out by runners up, France.
The World Cup has been a happy hunting ground for him down the years, as he took his total to a record of 57 scores.
Ahead of the bronze medal match against Australia, Williams said he was being persuaded to put off his retirement until December’s game against the Wallabies.
And having been beaten in a thrilling encounter with the Australians, he knows that there would be no sweeter revenge than beating them at the Millennium Stadium.
He admitted that his decision to retire was not taken lightly, and was made so he could prolong his club career with Ospreys, with whom he is contracted until 2013. -
Rugby player attacked by crocodile
Posted: October 31, 2011, 1:20 am by guestblogger
Kenya was at the heart of an astonishing rugby story this week when British born rugby player Antony Blackmore revealed he was attacked by a crocodile while teaching in Africa – but didn’t tell his team-mates when he returned.
Blackmore was airlifted to a hospital in Kenya to be treated for the life threatening attack that occurred in Lake Malawi last year.
The 27-year-old only revealed his story when interviewed for a television documentary while playing for Melksham.
He said: “It was a boiling hot day and I decided to go out on my own for a swim. I was about 100 yards off the shore treading water and without any sort of warning I just got ripped down and started to get rolled around.
“It was a very strange feeling, one part of my brain was quite sure I was going to die at that point, I was thinking ‘this is it now’.
“By chance I struck it (the crocodile) around the eye with my other foot. I felt it slow down, ripped my foot out of its mouth and swam to the surface.”
Surgeons in Kenya saved his foot and 60 stitches later he was mend, and while he is back playing rugby, it’s not without a few comments from his team-mates.
“Since they found out there’s been a lot of mickey-taking, I’ve had a lot of stick, but it’s all been light-hearted stuff. They said ‘you can fight off a crocodile but you can’t get anywhere near the ball’, that sort of thing.”
He added: “The programme describes the pressures of rising populations and the fact that more and more people are taking tourist trips around the world. I didn’t mind talking about it because I feel I was incredibly lucky.”
For a free bet head to big free bet – the best place for free bets! -
Tigers Clobber Sale; Flood on Form
Posted: October 31, 2011, 4:35 pm by guestblogger
The Leicester Tigers, playing in silver, dispatched the Sale Sharks yesterday night, scoring 34 to their opponents 13. The victory was heralded as a return to form for the Welford Road-based team, who are languishing in ninth place in the table, with just two wins from seven games.
Both Leicester and Sale had an opportunity to open the scoring, early in the first half. The Tigers' Tom Croft led a spirited charge at the Sale defence, only to be smothered before he could make it count. A few moments later, the Sharks' Nick MacLeod booted a penalty wide, to keep the score goalless, all-round.
The first points came at the 11th minute, with a Toby Flood penalty. However, the goal did nothing to dampen the Sharks' resolve; Steve Diamond's men returned to the offensive immediately, and almost had their aggression rewarded, when Rob Miller beat a path down the left flank. Pundits like Will Greenwood will have been impressed.
MacLead was given a chance at redemption at the half hour mark. He kicked two successful penalties to give Sale the lead, heading into the break. The Sharks' Tom Brady, who had a try ruled out earlier in the game, put the memory behind him, scoring a try in the final few minutes of the first half. The score at half-time; 13-3, in Sale's favour.
The Tigers' half-time orange had a brilliant effect on the Midlanders. Unfettered by his missed kick in the first few moments of the second half, Flood scored a penalty, before setting up another try for the visitors in the 58th. Trys from Argentine monster, Martin Castrogiovanni, and Flood, once again, quickly ended Sale's first half advantage. Those looking for betting tips will have been impressed.
Marcos Ayerza, another South American, sealed the match for the Tigers, in the 70th minute. The result will no doubt give Leicester the confidence to salvage their season, after injuries and a string of World Cup call-ups decimated their squad. The final score; 34-13, a resounding victory for the Tigers. -
Machine are Zuku Champions
Posted: October 29, 2011, 1:42 am by ruggerbug
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It's Battle of the Campuses in Floodlit Final
Posted: October 28, 2011, 12:50 am by ruggerbug
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World Cup winner backs Johnson
Posted: October 28, 2011, 6:21 pm by guestblogger
Former England star Josh Lewsey has backed his former team-mate Martin Johnson to remain in charge of the national team and enjoy success in the future.
The World Cup-winning captain is under severe pressure to step down from his position, after a disappointing display in New Zealand which saw the 2003 winners crash out at the quarter-final stage.
It was the manner of their exit and a string of poor performances that has led for calls for Johnson to go, with the Rugby Football Union reviewing matters before deciding what to do.
Despite winning the 2011 Six Nations, many pundits feel England are not going in the right direction under Johnson although that is not a opinion shared by Lewsey. Those looking at the UK sports betting should remember this.
The ex-Wasps back said: "I know he will be hurting hugely from the performances on the field and some of the alleged behaviour off it.
"He is a good man and was a phenomenal captain and a good guy and I have no doubt that if given long enough he would ultimately have success."
Lewsey also feels though that former coach Sir Clive Woodward could still have a part to play within the Rugby Football Union, after quitting his role as coach in 2004. People following the betting online need to remember this.
Some reports suggest Woodward, currently British Olympic Association Director of Elite Performance, could be in line for the position of as director of rugby.
Lewsey added: "Clive is a very professional guy and has always been very innovative in his ideas. He is exceptional and is a visionary but there is a review taking place that will come to its own conclusions." -
'Wiggy' Out for Nine Months
Posted: October 27, 2011, 7:43 pm by guestblogger
Saracens scrum-half, Richard 'Wiggy' Wigglesworth, has been sidelined for the rest of the season with a serious injury. The rugby player hurt his anterior cruciate ligament during the Saracens' match against the Exeter Chiefs, on Sunday. He underwent surgery on Wednesday, to correct the problem.
However, despite the success of the operation, Wigglesworth has been ruled out of professional competition for nine months.
The anterior cruciate ligament is so frequently mentioned in reference to sports injuries that rarely is anything more than the acronym, ACL, needed to identify the body part. Tears or ruptures to the ACL, which is located in the knee, are caused by landing stiff-legged, when jumping, and, most frequently, making sharp changes in direction, without regard for the position of the joint. Pundits like Will Greenwood will be wishing him a speedy recovery.
Wigglesworth, who was an active member of the England World Cup squad, was described as one of the country's "stand-out players" by Mark McCall, chief at the Saracens. "It's a big blow for Wiggy. He has worked so hard in the past 18 months to get himself back in the England side." The 28-year-old will now miss the Six Nations tournament, which begins in February, next year. People looking at the onlinebetting will be wondering what impact this will have.
McCall has played down concerns about the Saracens squad, insisting that the St. Albans-based side are "not looking to recruit", in order to fill the void left by Wigglesworth. "It's a blow for us, but we are lucky to have two very good players in Neil de Kock and Ben Spencer, who have both performed so well, this season."
Worryingly, Wigglesworth is not the only England player to have returned from the World Cup in a less-than-ideal condition. Leicester Tigers player, Ben Youngs, picked up a knee problem in June, but, following corrective surgery, was able to play as normal. The condition was somehow renewed during his international 'call of duty'.
Leicester's director of rugby, Richard Cockerill, was suspicious: "He left us four months ago fully fit and has come back with a pretty average knee, so we need to get on top of that." -
Wales in rankings slump
Posted: October 27, 2011, 2:52 am by guestblogger
Welsh Rugby fans will no doubt have been pleased with their performance during the World Cup, reaching the semi-finals and eventually finishing in fourth place.
However they received a huge shock when the latest IRB World Rankings were announced, as they slipped from sixth to eighth.
New Zealand unsurprisingly maintained their first place position, having defeated France in the final last Sunday.
Australia were again positioned second, while the French were the highest ranked Northern Hemisphere side in third, after an heroic tournament.
South Africa may have been surprised to end up in fourth, but were certainly below par at the World Cup, while England completed the top five.
But while Wales' World Cup performance in New Zealand was a massive boost to the sport in the country, news of their latest ranking will come as a surprise.
During the group stages, they pushed former world champions, South Africa all the way before eventually qualifying for the knock out stages.
There they put in another impressive performance to send home their six nations rivals Ireland, recording a 22-10 win in the quarter final, before eventually succumbing to France, who they will feel hard done-by not to have beaten.
Despite their brave performances at the World Cup, Warren Gatland's side were the only top 10 side to slip down the rankings. Even English fans wearing a Bath Jersey will tell you that this is a little strange.
Their slip in the rankings should be of no major significance, though, with their confidence no doubt having been significantly boosted.
They have quite a wait until their next game, but when they take on Australia in December it will be the chance to show the world they are better than their ranking of eighth.
One side that Wales defeated during the tournament, Ireland are above them in the rankings, in sixth place.
That meant they leapt above the Welsh, while Argentina did the same, as they moved up to seventh position.
In the new year they come up against the Irish once more, and will surely be looking to hand them a beating to prove they should be above them in the IRB rankings.
Tonga were ranked ninth, while Scotland completed the top 10. -
Impala Floodlit Result
Posted: October 23, 2011, 6:31 am by ruggerbug
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World Cup final not as simple to predict as many think
Posted: October 21, 2011, 10:33 pm by guestblogger
The majority of the rugby world seem to have written the World Cup final off as a no-contest and declared New Zealand the winners, but the France side reckon that dismissing them could be a dangerous thing to do.
You can understand the logic behind Les Bleus critics, they are the only team to ever reach the final having lost two matches in the pool stage and, while the loss to All Blacks was not a surprise, their defeat to Tonga was one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history. People looking at the rugby world cup betting should remember their not invincible.
France being France they came out of this catastrophic period to put on a stylish show to knock England out before scraping through a semi-final against a Wales team who were one man down from the 18th minute onwards.
Marc Lievremont has the team playing rigid rugby and the flair of France of old has gone, while New Zealand have looked strong and have comfortably strode their way to the World Cup final.
The All Blacks are massive favourites in the rugby betting but there are some who think this criticism will make France stronger.
Prop Fabien Barcella reckons France are a team that “cultivates contrasts” and can shock the hosts, while he adds the shocks have made them “stronger mentally” and they can draw inspiration from the bad times.
France coach Lievremont adds: “The players have been laughing a lot at the headlines for a while now. That's helped them pull together as well."
The World Cup has oozed excitement and drama so far so it would be a fitting send-off if the final was a classic encounter with quality rugby, rather than the damp squab and easy victory for the All Blacks that many expect. -
Impala Floodlit at Semi Final Stage
Posted: October 21, 2011, 10:26 pm by ruggerbug
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Mashujaa Day
Posted: October 20, 2011, 3:03 pm by ruggerbug
Out looking in
Down looking up
Up looking down
Or in looking across
All places we have been
All places we could see
What made us glow with pride
And what made us aspire to be
We all have
And we all know
Some of us are
And of us yet to be
Not something for all
But that affects us all
For in our lives they come
And in our lives they dwell
Forever to remain
As Heroes to all of us.Happy Mashujaa Day to all. And even in our own small way, we are
someone's hero. Whether directly or indirectly we affect people's
lives. Ours is to make it a positive effect.Perhaps we can just mention in the comments who our personal rugby
heroes have been locally and I will collate them and put them in a
main post at the end of next week. -
Deans will continue to build
Posted: October 18, 2011, 10:50 pm by guestblogger
Australian Rugby Union officials say they will stick with coach Robbie Deans for at least another two years, as the Wallabies look to make the transition from challengers to winners.
An erratic World Cup, which included defeat to Ireland and victory over South Africa, has pretty much summed up the Australia squad over the last four years, with the Deans' men reaching a crossroads.
Many saw Australia are the main challengers to New Zealand for the Webb Ellis Trophy, but their semi-final defeat at Eden Park showed they are still some way behind their near rivals. Those following the mobile betting will know this.
The ARU board will form a review of the World Cup display over the next couple of months and the likely conclusion will be like so many school reports – "can do better".
ARU chief executive John O'Neill said: ''We'll have a good assessment of where we can improve. The board said a pass mark was making the semis. So we got a pass mark, but we didn't get an A plus. We didn't win it, but it's not slit-your-wrists time."
Having won the Tri-Nations, all be it a weakened tournament ahead of the World Cup, the mix of exuberance and raw talent looked to be gelling together. People following the online betting will be keeping an eye on them to see how they get on.
Deans stuck with the enigma that is Quade Cooper throughout the tournament and he failed to deliver the goods in the semi-final against the All Blacks.
The highly-talented James O'Connor showed sparks of his ability, but ultimately could set the tournament alight, while full-back Kurtley Beale showed more potential and was missed against the hosts.
Wallabies fans will now hope the bosses stick by these young hopefuls and that the players live up to expectations ahead of the next World Cup in England in 2015. -
Impala Floodlit Results
Posted: October 16, 2011, 2:27 am by ruggerbug
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Impala Floodlit Enters Quarter Final Stage
Posted: October 14, 2011, 5:35 pm by ruggerbug
The Zuku Impala Floodlit Competition enters the quarter final stage tomorrow. Strathmore Leos face Nondescripts in the opening match and hosts Impala take on the Wanyore from Nakuru in the next match. Welcoming the floodlights will be KCB and Mean Machine whilst Harlequins and Mwamba close the proceedings.
Will post results here after the match. Please vote in our poll on the right. Nice weekend. -
Weekly Ramble
Posted: October 13, 2011, 4:47 pm by DataMiner
Just thinking about the case for professional rugby in Kenya. The departure of Humphrey Khayange to the UK at a time when talk is rife of making the "elite" rugby players full pro smacks of a real slap in the face. Professionalism by every sense would mean that it becomes the preferred career for the selected. It would thus be able to offer as much incentive as any other paying job, as well as ensure one is able to fend for themselves after retirement, which in a sportsman's case comes much earlier than most. It would thus appear to the casual observer like myself that a future in professional rugby in Kenya is not very appealing or practical at the moment, so long as there are other options. If there are none, then by all means it becomes viable.
Mine though is another approach to it. On paper it seems to make sense, but I have always been an advocate for to bottom-up approach, as opposed to the reverse. We must build the base for professionalism before claiming the top is professional. The previous rugby administration were averse to using the word professional and made the distinction in defining us as an amateur union. Reasons for that, I don't know. Fear of the deep end, possibly. Thus everything they did was guided by that word, amateur. Now the current administration, in its haste to right several perceived wrongs, has rushed to make some players professional. Just how that works, I don't know, but paying some players money will not necessarily make them better players. Are they now expected to quit college, their jobs and anything else that interferes with their vocation? And were they to get injured and no longer qualify to be in the professional category, can they just pick up their lives where they left off? And if you were to call up a new player into this group, how then does he catch up to where the rest have reached?
We cannot have a professional national team with amateur clubs. The clubs must professionalise first, and only then can we have a feeder to the national teams that share the same ideals as well as ethos! And that must be the focus of the Union. -
What does Humphrey Kayange's exit mean for Kenya Rugby 7's
Posted: October 12, 2011, 3:52 pm by Back2Besics
Humphrey Kayange the Kenya 7's talismanic captain has stepped down from his role as he makes his dignified exit from the Kenya 7's team. His post rugby career is starting to take shape as he heads to Bristol University for further studies. The IRB Mr. Clean Rugby Ambassador will also review his rugby options while studying in Bristol. Humphrey will be conspicuously missing from the Nyayo -
What does Humphrey Kayange's exit mean for Kenya Rugby 7's
Posted: October 12, 2011, 3:52 pm by Back2Besics
Humphrey Kayange the Kenya 7's talismanic captain has stepped down from his role as he makes his dignified exit from the Kenya 7's team. His post rugby career is starting to take shape as he heads to Bristol University for further studies. The IRB Mr. Clean Rugby Ambassador will also review his rugby options while studying in Bristol. Humphrey will be conspicuously missing from the Nyayo -
Tuilagi Fined for Ferry Incident
Posted: October 11, 2011, 5:21 pm by guestblogger
England's recent Rugby World Cup campaign looks set to go down in infamy as one of the most controversial in the team's history. Unfortunately, the side's list of inglorious incidents continues to grow, despite the fact that England were eliminated from the competition on Saturday, courtesy of underdogs, France.Suspensions, harassment, and violent fouls; the illegal swapping of rugby balls, -
Wales improving game after game
Posted: October 10, 2011, 10:40 pm by guestblogger
Wales have been one of the most impressive outfits at the Rugby World Cup and many are now asking the question, 'can Wales actually win the Webb Ellis trophy?'.The Welsh came out of the most difficult group in the competition and were so close to beating defending champions South Africa in their opening game of the World Cup.Warren Gatland has created a real bond among the Welsh camp – something -
Kenya Rugby : Director Edward Rombo's view on the Kenyan game
Posted: October 9, 2011, 7:06 pm by The Real KRFU
Sorry guys have been climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro but now I'm back. As we wish Mwangi Muthee a fruitful ? trip to New Zealand enjoy quotes from KRFU Director and Legal Advisor Edward Rombo aka Eddie the Eagle.Edward Rombo Atoti! Mambo? Its you that's gone quiet. Wapi whiskey yangu? How have you been? Long time no see or hear. I'm okay back to business. Hope you are well.Edward Rombo Hi Gibbo Im okay -
Floodlit Result
Posted: October 9, 2011, 3:35 pm by ruggerbug
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Impala Floodlit Kicks Off
Posted: October 8, 2011, 6:52 pm by ruggerbug
The 30th Edition of the Zuku Impala Floodlit Competition kicks off today with two matches on the cards in the main club category. Other categories are the schools and the universities making it an action filled event. The Schools category will feature three matches at Jamhuri Park whilst the Universities will have four matches today. In the main club category, four sides fight it out for a -
Gatland recalls Lydiate and Williams
Posted: October 6, 2011, 6:30 pm by guestblogger
The Welsh rugby team are to shuffle their line-up for their upcoming World Cup match against Ireland, on Saturday. The union side will make sweeping changes to the squad that crushed Fiji 66-0 on October 2, a move that seems to contravene that ancient law on team selection; 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it'.Shane Williams and flanker, Dan Lydiate, have been recalled following an 'all-clear' on
Blah blah blah
Fish cakes
Alas a fish cake.
Yet more fish cakes
Guess what ... yeah ... fish cakes.
The end of the fish cakes
