Nyanza selects preliminary squad for Under-14 rugby festival

Nyanza region has selected a preliminary squad of 28 to represent them at the national championships of the Kenya Rugby Union District two Get Into Rugby Under-14 festival.

The 28 were selected from 76 players drawn from Migori and Kisii Get Into Rugby Centers as well as Ogembo and Rianyanchabera Primary schools after a day-long festival held at Gusii Stadium on Sunday.

The exercise was conducted under the stewardship of KRU development officer Laban Bosire alongside coaches Joseph Okong’o and Dickson Manduku.

The Get Into Rugby program was initiated by World Rugby in 2012 to increase the participation in rugby by getting more players, match officials, coaches and supporters involved in the game.

In Nyanza, the program is implemented through primary schools and community Get Into Rugby centers.

Bosire said the selected team will be reduced further before the final squad with both boys and girls sets off for Nairobi.

He noted some primary schools like Elimu Academy, Kisii, Rianyanchabera, Nyanchwa Adventist, Migori, Itare and Nyamasaria have embraced rugby in the region adding the festivals aim at introducing the game to them at a young age.

“This is one of our strategies to ensure that the sport is introduced in all secondary schools and we want to let the players enjoy and explore the possibility of joining rugby,” Bosire underscored.

Bosire announced four boys and five girls from the region have been awarded scholarships to study and play rugby at Menengai High School and Shimba Hills.