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Kenya correspondent Maik Kwambo

Kenya Rugby Sevens team coach Benjamin Ayimba has announced the Shujaa squad for the opening two legs of the IRB Sevens World Series in Dubai and George.

Ayimba has kept faith with the core side that reached the RWC Sevens semi-final the last time the African side were in Dubai, and also claimed an overall sixth placing at the end of last season’s IRB Series.

In all Kenya reached six Cup quarter finals, three semi finals and a first final appearance in Wellington on the circuit, and Ayimba has made just three changes to his squad.

Impala's Brian Nyikuli, Mean Machine's Wilson K'Opondo and Kenya Harlequins' Leon Adongo are the notable inclusions, coming in for the Nondies duo of Biko Adema and Ben Nyambu and Allan Onyango who are out of the team due to academic and work-related commitments.

"This year we want to build on the success of reaching a first ever Cup final, in Adelaide last season," said Ayimba.

"We are going out to win the main Cup titles in both Dubai and George, and want to gather as many points from these and subsequent events as possible."

The team's flyer Collins Injera remains, as does his brother Humphrey Kayange. Injera finished as the season's overall top try-scorer last year and both were nominated for IRB Sevens Player of the Year.

Kayange retains the captain's armband and both captain and coach also spoke about how this year’s Series will also act as a platform for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

The Kenya Sevens team recently signed a lucrative sponsorship deal with the country's airline, Kenya Airways, and will face USA, Russia and England in Pool C at The Sevens on December 4.

Kenya Squad: 1. Humphrey Kayange (Mwamba RFC/Captain), 2. Gibson Weru (Nakuru RFC/Vice Captain), 3. Brian Nyikuli (Impala), 4. Victor Oduor (Harlequins), 5. Wilson Kopondo (Mean Machine), 6. Leon Adongo (Harlequins), 7. Charles Kanyi (Nondies), 8. Lavin Asego (Mwamba), 9. Innocent Simiyu (Impala), 10. Collins Injera (Mwamba), 11. Horace Otieno (Mwamba), 12. Sidney Ashioya (Harlequins); Non travelling reserves: Naftali Bondo (Harlequins), Andrew Amonde (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)

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