Wednesday 15 September 2010

Thirty points are up for grabs when the third leg of the Western Union National Sevens Circuit, the George Mwangi Kabeberi Memorial Sevens takes place this weekend at Nairobi’s RFUEA Grounds. This year’s tournament has broken with tradition, accommodating twenty four teams unlike days gone by when it was a sixteen team event.

Circuit leaders Mwamba RFC (88 points) hold an eight point lead over second placed Kenya Harlequin FC (80 points) heading into the weekend and will be keen to ensure that the status quo remains. This will be achieved by finishing ahead of Quins at the end of day two. The Black Shirts who are the tournament hosts and top seeds have been placed in Pool A alongside Daystar, Mount Kenya University and the United States International University-Africa.

Quins have been Mwamba’s opponents in the three previous main cup finals, winning the Christies before losing out at the Prinsloo and Dala Sevens. They headline Pool B that also has Catholic University, KCA and Masinde Muliro.

Impala RFC lie third on the Western Union National Sevens Circuit standings with 61 points, 19 points behind Quins, and 27 behind Mwamba. They have fallen at the main cup semi final stage on three occasions. They are seeded top in Pool C alongside Mean Machine RFC, Nairobi Mtaa and Molo RFC.

Nakuru RFC have accumulated the same number of points as Impala, but are placed fourth on the standings due to an inferior try count. They too have been perennial semi finalists in 2010. The Wanyore are in Pool D where they will face off against Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad, Oryx and Mwamba II.

Kenya Commercial Bank RFC (37 points) successfully defended their plate title in Kisumu, meaning that they are seeded ahead of Strathmore (41 points) who are four points ahead of them in the overall standings. KCB renew their acquaintance with Kisumu RFC in Pool E. Other teams in the pool are Greenfields and Mombasa.

Western Union National Sevens Circuit defending champions Strathmore have all but ceded the title. They still have pride to play for. They are top seeds in Pool F where their stiffest challenge should come from Homeboyz. Egerton and Nondies round the pool.

What will the Kabeberi Sevens have in store for rugby fans? Will it bring with it a different set of semi finals? Perhaps a different set of finalists? Maybe a change in the rankings?

Be at the RFUEA Grounds on Saturday and Sunday to find out.