Kangaru to prioritize 15s title defence at Embu Games

Embu County champions Kangaru School are optimistic of defending the rugby 15s title when the Regional Term One games kick off tomorrow at Kangaru School in Embu County.

Kangaru head coach Benson Mwenda said he will concentrate more on 15s after the Ministry of Education announced that both versions of the sport will be played at the same time.

“We have majored with the rugby 15’s side which took us to the nationals last year so we’re going to concentrate with the 15’s side but we also have the sevens team which has developing players,” Mwenda said.

He slammed the ministry of Education for combining rugby 15s and Sevens, saying the decision poses a huge selection headache for schools.

“They would have told us early last year after the nationals or the East Africa games so that one had enough time to choose the both squads.”

“Rugby 15’s and sevens are very different in terms of skills with players requiring different skills so we have just used the little time we had to justify that,” he added.

Mwenda who is also the Embu RFC coach said that he is not worried by last year’s finalists St Paul Kevote whom they narrowly beat 7-0 in last year’s county finals.

“They played quiet well in the sub counties but I’m not worried since we’ve prepared well to defend our title playing at our home ground.”

They reached the national level last year and the former Kangaru School alumni is confident of taking his team back to the East Africa games which they last played in 2015 losing 14-21 in the main cup finals to home side Ste Familie in Rwanda.

“I’m very certain Kangaru Rugby 15’s will go far even past nationals as we did back in 2015 when we qualified for the East Africa games in Rwanda.

Other disciplines to be played will include basketball, handball, hockey which will be held at Kangaru girls and Embu University ground, Cross Country taking  place at Kigari Teachers College.