Top Teams for Safaricom Sevens

Nairobi May 11, 2010 - Fourteen teams have confirmed participation in Africa's premier rugby tournament, Safaricom Sevens slated for June 4 – 6, 2010 at the RFUEA grounds, Nairobi.

Defending champions, Kenya will be hard pressed to defend the main cup title they won last year after demolishing the Emerging Boks from South Africa 40-19 in the finals.

With last year's runners up Emerging Boks leading the quality field in town, this year's tournament promises to be a highly competitive event let alone a quality one.

Other teams gracing the event star team Argentina, Grenoble, Bristol, Ponsonby, Georgia as well as African sides Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Morocco.

The event is sponsored by listed telecom firm, Safaricom who signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU).

According to the organizers, the presence of world-class teams as well as African sides is part of a deliberate effort to showcase first class rugby to the thousands of enthusiastic fans expected to flock to the RFUEA grounds.

New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tiejtens will be the tournament's Chief Guest. David Rose, a high profile Guinness Premiership English referee will also be in the country to conduct an International Rugby Board (IRB) coaching of match officials' courses

"This year's event will also see IRB seconded officials handle all fixtures at the Safaricom Sevens 2010," KRFU Chairman Richard Omwela told journalists at a media conference.

He said the rehabilitation of the RFUEA grounds was underway and will see new stands constructed, capable of seating an additional 1,500 fans, providing a bigger and better setting for one of the region's greatest sporting and social events of the year.

Families will also not been left out either with the setting up of a family corner to enable them comfortably catch all the action.

The tournament proceedings will be aired live on leading satellite television broadcaster SuperSport, showcasing Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament to millions of viewers on the African continent.

Terrestrial broadcaster K24 will also beam the matches live, bringing the game into the living rooms of millions of Kenyans, further raising the profile of Kenya's fastest growing sport.

Fans will also be able to receive live updates through the tournament website as popular social networking websites Facebook and Twitter.

In its quest to leave a legacy, the hosts Kenya will lead participating teams in conducting coaching clinics that will see them impart various rugby tips to budding rugby players.

About the Safari Sevens

It began fourteen years ago: The Rugby Patrons Society, a small band of rugby enthusiasts initiated and ran the competition which, nurtured by the Kenya Rugby Union, has grown into Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament. 

In 1996, with a sizeable crowd at the spiritual home of African Sevens Rugby, it was the Public Schools Wanderers from England who were crowned the inaugural Safari Sevens Champions with a 40-15 win over Zimbabwe. Hosts Kenya won the Plate with a 38-12 win over Uganda while another English side Cumbria beat the second string Kenyan side, Shujaa 29-10 to claim the Bowl. This tournament was memorable for the big names it attracted including Welsh international Colin Charvis and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner Chester Williams of South Africa who was the tournament's chief guest. 

By 2008, the tournament had attracted the likes of sevens powerhouses Fiji and Samoa as well as the Fijian master of sevens rugby, the now retired Waisale Serevi. Indeed the Safari Sevens has grown in stature, rightfully claiming its place as Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament. New developments each year, including top-class entertainment and an ever-expanding rugby village, ensures the tournament will remain one of Africa's top sporting and social events well into the future. 

Nairobi May 11, 2010 - Fourteen teams have confirmed participation in Africa's premier rugby tournament, Safaricom Sevens slated for June 4 – 6, 2010 at the RFUEA grounds, Nairobi.

Defending champions, Kenya will be hard pressed to defend the main cup title they won last year after demolishing the Emerging Boks from South Africa 40-19 in the finals.

With last year's runners up Emerging Boks leading the quality field in town, this year's tournament promises to be a highly competitive event let alone a quality one.

Other teams gracing the event star team Argentina, Grenoble, Bristol, Ponsonby, Georgia as well as African sides Zimbabwe, Namibia, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, Botswana and Morocco.

The event is sponsored by listed telecom firm, Safaricom who signed a three-year sponsorship deal with the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU).

According to the organizers, the presence of world-class teams as well as African sides is part of a deliberate effort to showcase first class rugby to the thousands of enthusiastic fans expected to flock to the RFUEA grounds.

New Zealand Sevens coach Gordon Tiejtens will be the tournament's Chief Guest. David Rose, a high profile Guinness Premiership English referee will also be in the country to conduct an International Rugby Board (IRB) coaching of match officials' courses

"This year's event will also see IRB seconded officials handle all fixtures at the Safaricom Sevens 2010," KRFU Chairman Richard Omwela told journalists at a media conference.

He said the rehabilitation of the RFUEA grounds was underway and will see new stands constructed, capable of seating an additional 1,500 fans, providing a bigger and better setting for one of the region's greatest sporting and social events of the year.

Families will also not been left out either with the setting up of a family corner to enable them comfortably catch all the action.

The tournament proceedings will be aired live on leading satellite television broadcaster SuperSport, showcasing Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament to millions of viewers on the African continent.

Terrestrial broadcaster K24 will also beam the matches live, bringing the game into the living rooms of millions of Kenyans, further raising the profile of Kenya's fastest growing sport.

Fans will also be able to receive live updates through the tournament website as popular social networking websites Facebook and Twitter.

In its quest to leave a legacy, the hosts Kenya will lead participating teams in conducting coaching clinics that will see them impart various rugby tips to budding rugby players.

About the Safari Sevens

It began fourteen years ago: The Rugby Patrons Society, a small band of rugby enthusiasts initiated and ran the competition which, nurtured by the Kenya Rugby Union, has grown into Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament. 

In 1996, with a sizeable crowd at the spiritual home of African Sevens Rugby, it was the Public Schools Wanderers from England who were crowned the inaugural Safari Sevens Champions with a 40-15 win over Zimbabwe. Hosts Kenya won the Plate with a 38-12 win over Uganda while another English side Cumbria beat the second string Kenyan side, Shujaa 29-10 to claim the Bowl. This tournament was memorable for the big names it attracted including Welsh international Colin Charvis and 1995 Rugby World Cup winner Chester Williams of South Africa who was the tournament's chief guest. 

By 2008, the tournament had attracted the likes of sevens powerhouses Fiji and Samoa as well as the Fijian master of sevens rugby, the now retired Waisale Serevi. Indeed the Safari Sevens has grown in stature, rightfully claiming its place as Africa's premier Rugby Sevens tournament. New developments each year, including top-class entertainment and an ever-expanding rugby village, ensures the tournament will remain one of Africa's top sporting and social events well into the future.