- Shujaa are preparing for the final of the Challenger Series
- They have already qualified for the Olympic Games
- The Lionesses will play the Olympic qualifiers in France
The Kenyan National men’s and women’s rugby teams, Shujaa and Lionesses, have officially checked into their pre-Olympics camp in the city of Miramas, France.
On their first day this week, they had the honor of welcoming the Mayor of Miramas, Frédéric Vigouroux, who visited the camp to show his support and solidarity with the teams.
Shujaa, after their impressive qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games against former African champions South Africa, have been diligently concentrating on reclaiming their core status in the HSBC World Rugby Series.
This series not only acts as a crucial stepping stone for their Olympic preparations, now just 64 days away but also serves as a platform to fine-tune their skills and strategies.
The Shujaa’s recent performance in Munich, Germany in the World Rugby Challenger Series, where they secured a commendable fifth place, showcases their determination and readiness as they strive to solidify their position among the elite teams in the rugby world.
Shujaa preparing for Madrid
Shujaa celebrate after winning the Africa 7s. PHOTO/KRU
Shujaa are preparing for the final of the challenger series in Madrid, Spain, which will be crucial in their quest to return as a core team of the World Series.
Heading to Madrid, they will take on Challenger winners Uruguay, Chile and Germany where the top team will qualify for next season’s World Series.
Co-Captain Vincent Onyala says the team is upbeat and motivated ahead of the Madrid tournament, and says they will give their all to ensure they qualify.
“This is a place where we had planned to be and our ambitions and goals will be fulfilled. We are really determined to make it happen especially for the young guys who have never experienced playing in a world series and wearing that jersey to compete against the best players in the world,” Onyala said.
He believes Shujaa getting back to the World Series will be massive for the game in the country as it will open up more opportunities after one season in the dark.
Onyala has meanwhile asked Kenyan fans in Madrid to come out in huge numbers and give the team support to enable them make a quick return to the top flight of global sevens rugby.
The pools for the HSBC SVNS Play-off in Madrid see Uruguay and Germany face the USA and Canada in Pool A, while Kenya and Chile join Spain and Samoa in Pool B.
The tournament is set for May 31-June 2.
Lionesses hungry for Olympic qualification
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba with the Kenya Lionesses.
Meanwhile, the Kenya Lionesses, determined and hungry for their third consecutive appearance on the world’s biggest stage, are eyeing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After narrowly missing the sole African ticket to the Lady Boks, the Lionesses have one last chance to secure their spot in Paris.
The team will train in Miramas for two weeks before coming back to Nairobi for a week and flying back to Miramas to train for one more week before heading to Monaco on 21-23 June 2024. A venue that has
hosted final qualification events before the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Lionesses lay in Pool A in the qualifiers against Argentina, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa.
During their training period in Miramas, both teams will engage in test matches with various French rugby teams. These matches are designed to maintain their competitive momentum and acclimatized conditions like those of the upcoming competitions.
“We are delighted to be in camp here in Miramas, as opposed to going back home and then returning later for the challenger series,” said Co-Captain Tony Omondi. “This setup allows us to stay focused and train in conditions akin to those we will face in the competitions.”
The visit by Mayor Frédéric Vigouroux underscores the significance of this preparation phase and the warm support from the local community. His visit is a testament to the strong cultural and sporting ties between Kenya and France, and it highlights the city’s commitment to supporting international sports.
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