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Maik Kwambo

The first leg of the Western Union National Sevens Circuit kicks off with the Kenya Harlequin Christie Sevens taking place this weekend at the RFUEA Grounds.

Defending National Sevens Circuit champions Strathmore Leos are the tournament's first seeds and headline Pool A that also features 2008 NSC champions Mwamba RFC, dark horses Nondescript RUFC and rank outsiders Kenya Methodist University. They will be favourites to lead Pool A at the end of round-robin play on Saturday and book a ticket to the main Cup quarter-finals.

Their stiffest competition should come from Mwamba whose challenge for the 2009 title was disrupted when they pulled out of the Christies following the death of Leroy Okara after a short illness. Nondescript RUFC could just upset the applecart and play in the Cup quarter-finals but this is largely dependent on which Nondies side turns up on the day. Christie Sevens debutantes Kenya Methodist University will be out to garner as much experience as they can when they step out onto the RFUEA turf on Saturday.

Host side and defending Christie Sevens champions Kenya Harlequin FC, "Mighty Quins"' to their adoring and vociferous supporters, headline Pool B with Kisumu RFC, Blak Blad and Daystar University rounding off the list of teams in this pool. The" Mighty Quins", Christie Sevens second seeds,should top their pool without necessarily getting out of first gear.

The real work for them starts on Sunday morning, assuming they will have done the obvious and secured passage to the main cup quarter finals. A lot is at stake for them, retention of their Christie Sevens title and putting points on the board, points that will put them in a good position to challenge for the 2010 National Sevens Circuit title. Kisumu RFC will probably join them in the quarters, that is if they are able to comfortably dispose of Blak Blad and Daystar during Saturday's round robin play.

Nakuru RFC was part of a trio that made the 2009 National Sevens Circuit interesting, staying in contention up to the final tournament in Mombasa. They are seeded third overall and top in Pool C alongside the University of Nairobi's Mean Machine RFC, Bungoma RFC and Egerton University.They should make the last eight that takes place on Sunday morning, alongside Mean Machine RFC.

Kenya Commercial Bank RFC are seeded fourth and headline Pool D where they renew their rivalry with Impala RFC as both sides fight for pool honors and passage to the knockouts. Homeboyz RFC, with a sprinkling of former KCB and Impala players, are the third side in the pool with Eldoret's Flames rounding off the group's composition.

Christie Sevens Day One Order of Play:

10.00am A Strathmore Leos v Nondescript RUFC
10.18am A Mwamba RFC V Kenya Methodist University
10.36am B Kenya Harlequin FC v Blak Blad
10.54am B Kisumu RFC v Daystar University
11.12am C Nakuru RFC v Bungoma RFC
11.30am C Mean Machine RFC v Egerton University
11.48am D Kenya Commercial Bank RFC v Homeboyz RFC
12.06pm D Impala RFC v Eldoret Flames
12.24pm A Strathmore Leos v Kenya Methodist University
12.42pm A Mwamba RFC v Nondescript RUFC
13.00pm B Kenya Harlequin FC v Daystar University
13.18pm B Kisumu RFC v Blak Blad
13.36pm C Nakuru RFC v Egerton University
13.54pm C Mean Machine RFC v Bungoma RFC
14.12pm D Kenya Commercial Bank RFC v Eldoret Flames
14.30pm D Impala RFC v Homeboyz RFC
14.48 pm A Nondescript RUFC v Kenya Methodist University
15.06pm B Blak Blad v Daystar University
15.24pm C Bungoma RFC v Egerton University
15.42pm D Eldoret Flames v Homeboyz RFC
16.18pm A Strathmore Leos v Mwamba RFC
16.36pm B Kenya Harlequin FC v Kisumu RFC
16.54pm C Nakuru RFC v Mean Machine RFC
17.12pm D Kenya Commercial Bank RFC v Impala RFC

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