Adhiambo earns maiden Kenya Lionesses call-up

Nakuru RFC’s Grace Adhiambo earned her debut call-up with Mwamba’s Sinaida Aura the other change made by coach Mike Shamiah in the Kenya Lionesses squad for the final round of the 2015/16 HSBC Women’s Sevens Series in Clermont-Ferrand, France.

They will replace KCB’s Philadelphia Olando and Harlequin’s Linet Moraa in the team that departs on Tuesday ahead of the tournament that runs next Saturday and Sunday.

Sinaida returns to the team after recovering from an ankle injury that had sidelined her for the Hong Kong 7s round in March while KRU Women’s League Most Valuable Player, Philadelphia Olando, could only make the non-travelling reserves after failing to recuperate from knee injury.

Odhiambo was handed her maiden call up after her impressive performances helped Nakuru to a third place finish in the Kenya Rugby Union Women’s league.

Shamiah further explained that Moraa’s omission from the squad was a mere technical change while Kate Abilla retains the captain’s armband .

“The team’s morale is high and we are all anxious to gauge just how good we are when we face off against the more established teams like England and USA,” Abilla told Citizen Digital.

“It is quite challenging for some of us who have regular jobs to maneuver between the team and work place but we promise Kenyans that we’ve been training hard and we plan to give it our all at the Paris Tournament.”

The Lionesses will take on USA, Spain and England in Pool A in their first season in the elite circuit as an invitational team having won the Bowl trophy in Dubai and Hong Kong.

They are using the event as preparation for the Olympics and are the only non-core team participating in the Paris leg but their status could change depending on their performance in Brazil this summer.

After the format and qualification process for the 2016-17 HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series was confirmed, the Lionesses now have the chance to qualify for the 2016/2017 World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series as a core team if they are able to at least clinch the Bowl at the Olympics.

Report by Eric Kagunda

Lionesses 7s Squad to France

Stacy Awuor, Janet Awour, Doreen Nziwa, Grace Adhiambo, Celestine Navalavyo, Cynthia Camilla, Irene Awino, Janet Musindalo, Rachael Adhiambo, Catherine Abilla (Captain), Michelle Sinaida, Sheilla Kavungwe