Highs and lows of 2014 Kenyan rugby season

Dan Bibby (left) of Engalnd tackles Andrew Amonde of Kenya during their rugby match on the first day of the Dubai leg of IRB's Sevens World Series on Decembre 5, 2014. PHOTO | KARIM SAHIB |   AFP

In Summary

• Kifaru became the first university franchise to lift the Bamburi Rugby Super Series title in June.
• Debutants Welsh Warriors lifted a maiden Safaricom Safari Sevens at Safaricom Stadium
• Kenya lost to hosts Namibia in the final of the Confederation of Africa Cup (CAR)Under-19 in August.
• Simbas had used the Vodacom Cup outing as a build up to the 2015 RWC qualifier.
• The 43-year-old Treu took over Kenya Sevens in December last year from Briton Mike Friday who resigned mid-way through his two-year contract.

By AYUMBA AYODI
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Intrigues, disappointments and surprises marked the 2013/2014 Kenyan rugby season where the journey to the 2015 Rugby World Cup by the National 15s side came to a painful end with the team agonizingly close to securing a maiden appearance in the tournament.

It’s a season that saw one of the most successful coaches in the IRB World Sevens Series, South African Paul Treu, take over Kenya Sevens but a poor run in the 2014/2015 series plus infighting among the Kenya Rugby Union board members forced the former Blitzbokke tactician resign just three legs into the season.

(READ: Beleaguered Kenya Sevens coach Paul Treu resigns)

Treu threw in the towel over what he referred to as unfavourable working conditions within the board before KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee followed suit citing similar issues earlier this month.

Kenya Sevens coach Paul Treu looks on during a past match. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |

NATION MEDIA GROUP

(READ: KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee resigns)

The board then picked on Union treasurer Gabriel Ouko as Muthee’s successor until March next year with Treu’s deputy Felix Ochieng taking over the reigns for the season.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman Mwangi Muthee addressing a press conference flanked by sevens coach Paul Treu on September 24, 2014, at Safaricom Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

(READ: New KRU chair warns against internal feuds)

Kenya 15s made its debut at South Africa’s top provisional championship, Vodacom Cup in March and April as Kenya “A” ensured the Elgon Cup remained in Kenya, affirming Kenya’s prowess over Uganda Cranes in July.

Tusker Simba’s Collins Injera (centre) charges to the touchline during Kenya’s friendly match against Western Province at the RFUEA grounds on June 7. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU | NATION MEDIA GROUP

NAKURU CONQUER

Nakuru proved that their history making feat the previous season as the only club to win Kenya Cup from outside Nairobi wasn’t a fluke when they retained the prestigious title in May as they also captured their sixth Enterprise Cup title in April, coincidentally coming six years after their last triumph.

Naukuru Rugby Football Club coach Dominique Habimana (centre) and Gibson Weru follow the proceedings of events during their Enterprise Cup final against KCB on April 5, 2014 at RFUEA grounds. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION

Kabras Sugar and Catholic University Monks topped the 2013/2014 Nationwide League to earn promotion to the top flight Kenya Cup rugby league for the 2014/2015 season as Kenya Commercial Bank defended their Great Rift 10-a-side title in April.

SAFARICOM SEVENS

Debutants Welsh Warriors lifted a maiden Safaricom Safari Sevens at Safaricom Stadium, Kasarani in September as senior Kenya Sevens players boycotted the event owing to a dispute in their contracts.

(READ: Resilient Warriors rally past Argentina to take top honours)

Welsh Warriors led by their Captain Mark Turner celebrate with the Safaricom Sevens Main Cup trophy on September 28, 2014 at Safaricom Stadium. PHOTO | CHRIS OMOLLO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

Kifaru became the first university franchise to lift the Bamburi Rugby Super Series title in June.

Kenya lost to hosts Namibia in the final of the Confederation of Africa Cup (CAR) Under-19 in August.

Leading the log heading into the final day of the 2014 CAR Division 1A Champions in Antananaravivo, Madagascar, Kenya’s Simbas fell to a 28-10 defeat to Zimbabwe on July 6. That saw them finish third overall in the competition after Namibia staged an 89-10 demolition of hosts Madagascar to book a fifth successive appearance at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

(READ: Zimbabwe dash Kenya’s dream)

Namibia had an outside chance but Zimbabwe’s 28-10 win against Kenya, denied Tusker Simba a bonus point that could have seen them through to the 2015 Rugby World Cup finals in the United Kingdom.

Simbas looked certain to progress at least to the play-offs, having defeated Namibia 29-22 earlier in the round-robin competition, but were left to rue what might have been their laxity to score more tries against Madagascar.

Namibia, Zimbabwe and Simbas all finished on 10 points, but Namibia claimed the title by virtue of having a superior points difference (+76 compared to Zimbabwe +49 and Kenya +23).

Zimbabwe emerged as the team that progressed to the Repechage where they lost to Russia.

Simbas had used the Vodacom Cup outing as a build up to the 2015 RWC qualifier. The Simbas took event by storm, stunning Eastern Province Kings 17-10 on March 8. But they would fail to win a match henceforth losing to South West District 7-51, Border Bulldogs 17-18, Boland Cavaliers 19-24, Western Province 29-65, Sharks 3-40 and Free State 10-75. That saw them finish seventh in the Southern pool that had eight teams.

(READ: Tusker Simba to feature at 2015 Vodacom Cup)

ELGON CUP

Kenya swept the Elgon Cup by claiming victory in all three categories of the competition on July 13. Kenya’s U-19s started the assault defeating Uganda 27-12 for a 37-27 aggregate win, having lost the first leg 10-15 in Kampala.

Kenya’s inside centre Philadelphia Olando (right) shows Ugandan’s Beatrice Atim a clean pair of heels during their Elgon Cup return fixture at RFUEA ground on July 19, 2014. Kenya won 39-10 and 72-25 on aggregate. PHOTO | FILE | NATION

Trailing 14-21 from first leg in Kampala, Kenya “A” romped to a 34-0 rout of Uganda that saw them win the Elgon Cup 48-21 on aggregate. Kenya Lionessess were too strong for the Uganda Lady Cranes as they posted a 39-10 home win for a 72-25 aggregate victory that saw them reclaim the title.

The 43-year-old Treu took over Kenya Sevens in December last year from Briton Mike Friday who resigned mid-way through his two-year contract.

Treu had coached Bokke for eight seasons, making him the longest serving national coach having won 14 tournaments on the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Sevens Series in this time as well as one IRB World Series title.

Treu took charge of Kenya Sevens in the second leg of the 2013/2014 IRB World Series in Dubai before announcing that Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on December 13-14 would be his last. Treu’s deputy Felix Ochieng had guided Kenya Sevens through the opening leg in Gold Coast in the 2013/2014 Series.

(READ: Treu blues as his Kenya punished in South Africa)

IMPRESSIVE RUN

Kenya wound seventh with 85 points during the 2013/2014 Season reaching Cup quarters six times. They had reached five Cup semis to amass 99 points for an overall fifth position the previous season.

After Gold Coast where the team reached the Plate final losing to Fiji 36-0, Treu would take charge at Dubai Sevens where they reached Plate semis losing to Wales 19-24. They posted another Plate semi performance at Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens losing to Fiji 5-52 before losing to Fiji again 0-35 in Bowl final at USA Sevens.

(READ: Kenya Sevens Dubai trip ends in misery)

They won Bowl at Wellington Sevens, beating Scotland 24-14, lost to Australia 0-36 in Plate semis in Tokyo before winning Shield in Hong Kong, beating Portugal 17-10 in the final.

Kenya reached Plate final in Glasgow and London but lost to England 5-26 and South Africa 14-38 respectively.

Without key players Colins Injera, Biko Adema, Oscar Ouma, Willy Ambaka, Horace Otieno, Lavin Asego, Humphrey Kayange and Michael Wanjala, the 2014/2015 has been marked by an awful start with the team dropping to Shield final in Gold Coast and Dubai before Bowl final at Nelson Mandela Bay Sevens.

Dan Bibby (right) of Engalnd is tackled by Daniel Sikuta of Kenya during their rugby match on the first day of the Dubai leg of IRB's Sevens World Series on December 5, 2014. PHOTO | KARIM SAHIB | AFP

NAKURU TRIUMPH

Nakuru retained the Kenya Cup with a 20-13 win over KCB in a nail biting final played at the RFUEA grounds on May 17. Martin Owila of Nakuru emerged the MVP in the final. Nakuru beat Strathmore Leos 30-16 in the semi-final of what was a repeat of the previous year's Cup final. KCB beat Quins 24-8 in the other semi.

KCB II defeated Nakuru II 21-10 in extra time to reclaim the Eric Shirley Shield title, their fourth title after wins in 2004, 2006 and 2008.

It was a match befitting a cup final, as Nakuru edged KCB 18-13 to lift their sixth Enterprise Cup title o April 5 with the winners’ skipper Edwin Makori walking home with the man of the match award.

Welsh Warriors claimed Safaricom Safari Sevens title with a tactfully fought 24-17 win over Argentina in the final as Samurai settled third with a 31-26 extra time result over Western Province.
Outgoing champions Shujaa put a smile on the faces of their fans, edging out Auckland Metro 17-14 to claim the plate title.

Kifaru demolished pre tournament favourites Papa 15-0 in the Bamburi Rugby Super Series final at the RFUEA grounds. Papa also created history by becoming the first side in history to fail to score in the BRSS final.