After what was a thrilling opening leg of the 2019 Stanbic National Sevens series in Kakamega, the sevens caravan travels 495 Kms east to make its second stop at the Kinoru stadium, in the cold town of Meru, this weekend, for the 31st edition of the Kabeberi Sevens.
Defending series and Kabeberi champions Menengai Cream Homeboyz RFC come into the tournament off a cup final loss to KCB in Kakamega, the DJs will be looking to get back to winning ways at one of their favourite sevens legs. Homeboyz won their first ever title in the sevens series at the 2013 Kabeberi sevens back in 2013.
The DJs will be playing from Pool B, where they are joined by the surprise package from Kakamega, MMUST, Mean Machine and pending confirmation, the Stanbic Pirates of Uganda, in what should be a straightforward affair for them.
The real battle should come for the second slot with both MMUST and Machine backing their chances for that slot. Watch out for the Pirates who are the current sevens series leaders in Uganda, if they do make the trip, expect some free flowing rugby from the Ssebos.
The early series leaders KCB, will line up alongside Resolution Impala, Menengai Oilers and Meru RFC, who made the draw as an invited side, in Pool A. The Lions will have their work cut out for them, as they face a rejuvenated Impala side who had a decent display in Kakamega, bowing out at the 5th place semi finals. The Oilers will be looking to improve on their Challenge trophy placing in Kakamega and get into the cup draw.
In Pool C, hosts Stanbic Mwamba will start their challenge for their first Kabeberi title since 2015 against Nondies, Egerton Wasps and the Kenya Harlequins. Kulabu who finished third in Kakamega will be looking to dust up and get their campaign for the series title in Meru.
Nondies should provide the biggest challenge to the black shirts in this pool, if their last meeting is anything to go by, where Mwamba emerged 26-12 winners in Kakamega’s Pool B action. In recent times, there has been a tendency of invited teams beating the hosts in the sevens series, it will be interesting to see if Quins can keep that form going and get back to winning ways.
Top Fry Nakuru RFC headline Pool D, where they will meet the Strathmore Leos, Kabras Sugar and the Kakamega sevens division II winners, Northern Suburb Cubs. By the time of writing this, Kabras had announced that they will not be participating in the tournament, for yet to be established reasons.
The absence of the Sugar millers opens up this pool for the Wanyore and Leos, who should now have easier paths to the cup quarter finals, with one of the division II sides poised to replace Kabras in this pool. Also look out of the brave cubs who beat Blakblad in the cup final last weekend.
If Kakamega is anything to go by, Kabeberi should be just as exciting if not more, with sides looking to better their performances in this second leg and the race to the series slowly taking shape. Do enjoy your rugby weekend and let’s compare notes on Monday…
KWISHA… Nimeruka Nje!!!
