New Ultimate Sevens threatens KCB’s hunt for sixth national title

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The newly launched Ultimate Sevens Championship could jolt KCB Rugby Club’s quest for their sixth National Sevens Circuit title.

KCB head coach Andrew Amonde is concerned that the absence of his five key players in the final two legs of the Christies and Embu tournaments could hinder their progress, having won the Prinsloo Sevens title and retained the Kabeberi Sevens title.

KCB narrowly beat Strathmore University Leos 21-19 to win their fifth consecutive Kabeberi Sevens title and take the top spot in the series standings with 57 points. Meanwhile, Kabras Sugar dropped one place to second with 51 points.

Kenya Sevens co-captains George Ooro and Samuel Asati, as well as Vincent Onyala, Nygel Amaitsa and Festus Shiasi, who have been at the core of KCB’s sevens circuit campaign, are among the 14 Kenyan players selected for the Ultimate Sevens Championship, which will comprise four legs.

They will compete in the fourth leg of the circuit, the Driftwood Sevens, which is scheduled to take place in Mombasa this weekend, before leaving for the Ultimate Sevens Championship.

“Just one player can make a huge difference in sevens. It will be a big blow, but we will make do with what we have. We have depth,” said Amonde.

"Defending the Driftwood title before the players leave for London will be a big plus,” said the coach.

The Ultimate Sevens Championship will feature six franchises competing across four European cities: Madrid (Spain), Cardiff (Wales), Biarritz (France) and London (England).

The franchises comprise 144 finely selected players, both men and women, from around the world, including top international talent and stars from some of the world’s leading sevens rugby nations.

The franchises are: Albion Athletic Sevens Club (England); Atlantic Novas Sevens Club (Celtic countries); Foudre Bleue Sevens Club (France); Pacific Current Sevens Club (Oceania); Clan Taran Sevens Club (North America); and Sol Feroz Sevens Club (South America and Spain).

Leganés in Madrid will open the championship on September 5, followed by Cardiff at the Cardiff Arms Park on September 12 and Biarritz at the Parc des Sports Aguilera on September 18.

The final will take place on September 24 at the Gtech Community Stadium in Brentford, London.

Each of the six franchises will have a men’s and a women’s team, each comprising 12 players: two marquee players, nine elite players, and one academy player.

Onyala and John Okoth from the Menengai Oilers and the Kenya Lionesses' captain, Sheila Chagira, will play for Clan Taran, while Asati and Amaitsa have been selected by Albion Athletics.

Shiasi and Daystar University Falcons' speedster, Patrick Odongo, will play for Foudre Bleue, while Sol Feroz will field Ooro and Kenya Harlequins' Moreen Muritu in their men's and women's teams.

Pacific Current has Kabras Sugar’s Kevin Wekesa and Mwamba’s Tony Omondi in the men's competition, and Quins’ Freshia Oduor in the women. Chrisant Ojwang, who plays for the Nakuru Rugby Club, has been drafted by the Atlantic Novas.

The inaugural Ultimate Sevens Championship, which focuses on continental regions rather than respective nations, is set to be the biggest sevens extravaganza after the World Rugby Sevens Division I Series.

Privately owned by BIA Sports Group and sanctioned by World Rugby, the championship will be a knockout-style tournament, with each half lasting 10 minutes instead of the usual seven.

The organisers have set aside Sh352 million (£2 million) for players' salaries, with the top players earning the most. Elite professional players, of whom most are Kenyan, will receive standard competitive tournament rates.

Reporting originally appeared via Nation Africa. Read the full source for additional context.