South Africa’s Bitzbok top the bill as the Safari Sevens return to Nairobi this weekend, thanks to a lucrative sponsorship deal with Kenya Breweries Limited.
The team includes veteran playmaker Cecil Afrika, a regular in the Blitzboks since debuting in the World Series a decade ago, amassing a record 1,440 points for his country, which places him sixth on the World Series all-time list. He returns after undergoing an operation in June to fix a torn bicep.
Captain Siviwe Soyizwapi is one of seven players in the squad that boast World Rugby Sevens Series experience. Impi Visser and Angelo Davids made their Blitzboks debuts last season, while Soyizwapi, Selvyn Davids, James Murphy and Cecil Afrika are all World Series winners from the 2017-18 season.
Selvyn Davids, Soyizwapi, Visser and Murphy were also part of the squad that won the Oktoberfest 7s title in Munich last month.
The good news for Kenya is that all their top players are back on board after last year’s pay strikes. The disruption saw them finish 13th in the World Series, their worst showing of the decade. New Zealander Paul Feeney has been appointed new head coach of the host nation, while veteran Andrew Amonde will skipper the team, which also features all-time top try scorer Collins Injera.
Kenya’s second string side – the Morans – will be captained by veteran Jeff Oluoch. Other experienced players back in the squad are Willy Ambaka and Nelson Oyoo.
Defending champions Samurai have named a strong line-up. The side is full of players who have World Series or academy experience with their countries, including Australian captain Tom Connor and his deputy W.J. Strydom of South Africa.
Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Burundi have also confirmed their involvement, along with Russia, Spain, a French selection, and South African provincial powerhouses Western Province and the Blue Bulls.
Fiji Sevens legend Waisale Serevi will be coaching the Russian team in Kenya. Serevi was appointed last year to lead the side back into the World Series. The short term goal is to try and qualify for the European GPX series, while in the long term Russia hopes to reach the World Cup.
The Spanish squad includes Alejandro Sanchez Del la Rosa. who had 13 appearances in their 2019 World Series. Francisco Osete, Juan Martinez, Diego Periel and Noel Carrion also featured as Spain finished 12th ahead of Kenya.
Zimbabwe, Safari Sevens finalists in 1996, 2006 and 2007, are using the tournament to build up for next month’s Africa Cup Sevens in Johannesburg, which will serve as the African qualifying round for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.
Uganda will be captained by veteran Michael Wokorach, while the team also features Solomon Okia, Aaron Oforywoth, Desire Ayera and Joseph Aredo. Talented fullback Philip Wokorach misses out as he recently embarked on a professional career in the French third tier.
In what has been described as a “Cinderella story” for Ugandan rugby, the younger Wokorach signed a nine-month contract with Bourges last weekend after making an impressive debut as Bourges beat Uzerche 27-7 in the French Fifth Division Championship.
Pool A: South Africa, Uganda, Morans, Burundi
Pool B: Samurai, Western Province, Narvskaya Zastava
Pool C: Shujaa, Blue Bulls, Russia Academy, Zambia
Pool D: Spain, Zimbabwe, Seventise, KCB RFC
Uganda vs Morans, 9.30am
South Africa vs Burundi, 9.50am
Western Province vs Zastava, 10.10am
Samurai vs Red Wailers, 10.30am
Blue Bulls vs Russia Academy, 10.50am
Shujaa vs Zambia, 11.10am
Zimbabwe vs Seventise, 11.30am
Spain vs KCB, 11.50am
Uganda vs Burundi, 12.20pm
South Africa vs Morans, 12.40pm
Western Province vs Red Wailers, 1pm
Samurai vs Zastava, 1.20pm
Blue Bulls vs Zambia, 1.40pm
Shujaa vs Russia Academy, 2pm
Zimbabwe vs KCB, 2.20pm
Spain vs Seventise, 2.40pm
Morans vs Burundi, 3.10pm
Zastava vs Red Wailers, 3.30pm
Russia Academy vs Zambia, 3.50pm
Seventise vs KCB, 4.10pm
South Africa vs Uganda, 4.30pm
Samurai vs Western Province, 4.50pm
Shujaa vs Blue Bulls, 5.10pm
Spain vs Zimbabwe, 5.30pm
Blitzboks
Cecil Afrika, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Stedman Gans, Selvyn Davids, Angelo Davids, Darren Adonis, Qamani Kota, Shilton Van Wyk, James Murphy, Christoffel Grobbelaar, Impi Visser, Divan Enslin
Samurai
Jamie Anderson (England), Josh Bassingthwaite (South Africa), Tom Connor (Australia), Ronnie du Randt (England), Richard Mill (Scotland), Ruan Mostert (South Africa), Dewald Naude (South Africa), Pierre Peres (France), Dylan Pietsch (Australia), Nico Pouplot (France), Hayden Sargeant (Australia), WJ Strydom (South Africa), Charlie Tupu (Australia)
Kenya
Andrew Amonde (c), Bush Mwale, Willy Ambaka, Brian Wandera, Charles Omondi, Collins Injera, Mickey Wanjala, Daniel Taabu, Oscar Denis, Nelson Oyoo, Mike Okello, Jacob Ojee
Morans
Jeff Oluoch (c), Vincent Onyala, Alvin Otieno, Timothy Mmasi, Dan Sikuta, Monate Akwei, Herman Humwa, Ian Mabwa, Davis Nyaundi, Johnstone Olindi, Geoffrey Okwach, Joel Inzuga, Collins Shikoli
Red Wailers
James Hare, Chrisant Ojwang, Bryan Juma, Tony Omondi, Iago Davies, Alvin Marube, Blake Morgan, Ciaran Moore, Elkeans Musonye, Ben Bell, Walter Okoth, Bob Muhati, Archadius Khwesa
Spain
Andres Arnau, Nil Baro, Eduardo Lopez, Noel Carrion, Jorge Calvo,Eric Goni, Juan Martinez, Francisco Osete, Alejandro Sanchez de la Rosa, Diego Periel, Eduardo Bolinches, Ramon Fernandez de Caleya
Seventise (France)
Maxience Blanc, Josias Daoudou, Pierre Chapolin, Dan Rowland, Matthieu Delcourt, Noe Larribe, Luca Mignot, Benjamin Laufer, Florian Makala, Nicolas Lambert, Michel Guiborat, Valentin Insardi, Aurelion Chaumont
Zimbabwe
Stephan Hunduza (c), Njabulo Ndlovu, Blythe Mavesere, Emmanuel Zangari, Martin Mangongo, Ngoni Chibuwe, Nelson Madida, Andrea Banda, Biselele Tshamala, Hilton Mudariki, Tarisa Mugariri, Takudzwa Kumadiro
Uganda
Michael Wokorach (c), Pius Ogena, Kevin Kerumundu,Solomon Okia, William Nkore, Desire Ayera, Ian Munyani,Joseph Aredo, Nobert Okeny, Adrian Kasito, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Timothy Odong
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
China to compete in an international 7s tournament in Spain next month: Selecciones masculinas RUSIA FRANCIA GALES ALEMANIA ESCOCIA ESPAÑA ESPAÑA B ITALIA IRLANDA CHINA PORTUGAL VIATOR Barbarians
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Joburg crowned African Uni 7s champs. Interestingly, the teams appear to be exclusively from southern and eastern Africa - mostly the latter, which is perhaps not surprising, given the event was staged in Uganda: Final University of Johannesburg 12 -0 Uganda Marty’s University Bronze Makerere University 10-0 USIU Fifth place Kenyatta University 19 UCU Seventh place Kyambogo University 17-0 MUBS Botswana University 20-0 Kibabi University Semi-Finals Results University of Johannesburg 22 – 00 USIU Makerere 00 – 12 Uganda Martyrs Quarterfinal University of Johannesburg 42 – 00 MUBS Makerere 17 – 07 Uganda Christianity University UMU 17 – 12 Kenyatta University Kyambogo 00 – 10 USIU
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Thanks, From North. I enjoy reading your updates and appreciate being kept informed, as I'm personally very interested in Russia, having spent a little time there. I did a few articles on Russian rugby for that reason, but don't feel I'll be ready to do another for a while, I'm afraid. You could try yourself - or alternatively just keep updating us in the comments sections :thumbup:
From North
Roar Rookie
Snow fell in Krasnoyarsk, frost -5C. There are new details of the transition to the fall-spring system. They plan to play Premier League matches in November, March and April. So that Siberian clubs do not play in bad weather at home, they want them to play their home games in November and March thousands of kilometers from their fans in Sochi. They also plan a playoff system like in France. There will be fewer playoff games. Final at the large stadium in Moscow. This means that in Krasnyarsk there will be only a few home matches in September, October, April and May. Without Finals as before. There will be no games in the summer. This is the slow death of Krasnoyarsk rugby. If you want to write an article on this topic, can I add facts and different interviews? You need to show all the rugby world how money makes people crazy.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Obviously the score in the final should read South Africa 14 Morans 19.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Kenya Morans, the national B team, are the Safari 7s Champions after beating South Africa 19-14 in the final in Nairobi today. Finals South Africa 19-14 Kenya Morans Bronze Shujaa 19-5 Russia Academy Fifth place Samurai 19-10 Seventise Challenge Trophy Uganda 12-29 Western Province 13th place playoffs Blue Bulls 38-21 Zastava Cup semis South Africa 19-5 Shujaa Kenya Morans 24-10 Russia Fifth place semis KCB 17-21 Samurai Seventise 21-7 Red Wailers Challenge Trophy Semis Uganda 26-21 Zambia Spain 5-22 Western Province 13th place semis Zimbabwe 10-14 Zastava Burundi 0-64 Blue Bulls Cup Quarters South Africa 31-14 KCB Shujaa 19-14 Samurai Seventise 7-24 Morans Red Wailers 5-17 Russia Academy Challenge Trophy Uganda 17-12 Zimbabwe Zambia 27-17 Zastava Spain 48-5 Burundi W. Province 31-26 Blue Bulls
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Cup quarters South Africa vs KCB Shujaa vs Red Wailers Seventise vs Morans Samurai vs Russia Academy Bowl Uganda vs Zimbabwe Blue Bulls vs Zastava Spain vs Burundi Western Province vs Zambia Pool A South Africa 9 Kenya Morans 7 Uganda 5 Burundi 3 Pool B Samurai 7 Red Wailers 7 Western Province 6 Zastava 4 Pool C Kenya Shujaa 9 Russia Academy 5 Blue Bulls 5 Zambia 5 Pool D Seventise 9 KCB 7 Spain 4 Zimbabwe 3 Safari 7s Fixtures Uganda vs Morans 10-24 South Africa vs Burundi 61-0 Western Province vs Zastava 19-19 Samurai vs Red Wailers 5-19 Blue Bulls vs Russia Academy 24-24 Shujaa vs Zambia 24-0 Zimbabwe vs Seventise 0-24 Spain vs KCB 7-24 Uganda vs Burundi 33-12 South Africa vs Morans 17-12 Western Province vs Red Wailers 15-12 Samurai vs Zastava 33-14 Blue Bulls vs Zambia 17-22 Shujaa vs Russia Academy 41-0 Zimbabwe vs KCB 12-19 Spain vs Seventise 0-14 Morans vs Burundi 52-0 Zastava vs Red Wailers 12-19 Russia Academy vs Zambia 31-12 Seventise vs KCB 35-12 South Africa vs Uganda 19-17 Samurai vs Western Province 17-12 Shujaa vs Blue Bulls 19-7 Spain vs Zimbabwe 29-0
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Serbia 30 Turkey 15 Cyprus 20 Croatia 25 Slovenia 28 Israel 28
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Absolutely! Thanks, Peter. Uganda might be the next African team to shine on the 7s stage.
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Thanks, Mzilikazi. Yes, I'm a Kiwi based in Istanbul. 15 years in this amazing city!
mzilikazi
Roar Pro
Great article, Wingman. And good to have so much information one would never come across in"a month of Sundays". Really appreciate all your research. As a matter of interest, where are you based.....not Istanbul I would guess ? Or maybe you are, given my record as a tipster....fortunately not a gambler.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Still love your angle on our global game mate. It's not all about the popular stuff...
Peter
Guest
IW, thank you! It’s been fun watching the emergence of nations like Kenya in 7s, and you know there will always be at least a couple of “lesser” teams springing a surprise. And, as an aside, isn’t Cecil Afrika a great name for a star Blitzbok!
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Thanks. Just read a lot of articles off the African press. :stoked: At least a couple of them seemed to imply the tournament hadn't been played for a decade, but others referred to recent winners, so that left me a little confused. 7s isn't normally my thing. All I do know is the KRU picked up a big sponsorship deal recently and part of that has gone into this year's event.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Wingman...looks like you have done your research once again. Awesome!
Istanbul Wingman
Roar Guru
Live streaming will be available on the event's Facebook site. Watch this space for results.