Friday 20 November 2009

The Western Union National Sevens circuit lands in Nairobi for its second leg, the Christie Sevens which takes place Saturday and Sunday at the RFUEA on Ngong' Road.



The first leg in Kisumu saw Nakuru RFC exceed all expectations in claiming the Dala Sevens title courtesy of that 22-0 win over Kenya Harlequin in the final at the Kisumu Polytechnic. They are the top seeds heading into the Christie Sevens and are in Pool A alongside Dala Sevens Bowl winners Kisumu RFC, Mombasa RFC and Catholic University. I expect Nakuru to proceed to the quarter finals from this pool. I also feel that Kisumu and Mombasa will fight it out for the second quarter final berth.



Losing Dala Sevens finalists Kenya Harlequin FC are seeded second and head Pool B. Other teams in the pool are Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology who acquitted themselves pretty well in making it to the Dala Sevens quarter finals, USIU and Dala Sevens Shield winners JKUAT . Quins should ease through the pool. Masinde Muliro, maybe? Sometimes sevens is a funny game so don't be surprised if any of the other two teams, USIU or JKUAT crash the big boys party.



Impala RFC, semi finalists at the Dala Sevens are seeded third at the Christies and head a potentially tricky Pool C that also has Nondescript RUFC, Mean Machine and Daystar University. While I expect Impala RFC to ease through to the quarters, Nondies and Mean Machine will definitely fight it out for the other quarter final slot from this pool.



Strathmore Leos were losing semi final finalists at the Dala Sevens and have been seeded fourth at the Christies. They head Pool D where they will compete for top honors with Dala Sevens Plate winners Kenya Commercial Bank RFC. Blak Blad and Flames round up the group. While I expect Strath and KCB, ( the defending Christie Sevens champions) to make it to the quarters, Blak Blad are rank outsiders.



Mwamba RFC, the reigning Western Union National Sevens Circuit champions will give this tourney a miss as they will be in Butere, Western Kenya attending the burial of their teammate Leeroy Okara,who passed away on Friday 13 November 2009 after a short illness aged 24.