Kitondo School set sights on rugby 7s national glory

Eastern Region boys’ rugby 7s champions Kitondo School are gearing up for yet another fierce battle in a quest to bag their maiden national gong.

Having failed to raise a formidable rugby 15s side to compete at the Term One games, they are now determined to excel in the shorter version of the game which has been their forte for years.

They will build on last year’s rugby 15s national third place finish when they clash with their peers at this year’s Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association National Term Two games that begin on Tuesday in Kakamega.

Kitondo coach Michael Satia revealed that his charges are ready for the national contest.

“The boys are working very hard in readiness for the upcoming challenge. They are very committed to the course and I believe that their efforts will come to fruition. Our aim is to perform better than we have done before and also qualify for the East Africa games,” Satia said.

The Makueni County school is gradually positioning itself as a rugby powerhouse in Eastern following the fall of former giants Kangaru School who have faded away.

Kangaru woes seem to have begun after departure of coach Benson Mwenda who shifted his allegiance to reigning East Africa rugby 15s champions All Saints Embu.

However, they will have to be at their best since this year’s contest features top rugby schools in the country.

Holders Friends Bwake Boys Secondary School will be in Kakamega to defend their crown. Even so, they are not the only side that pose a threat to their ambitions as the games will see the return of former national and East Africa champions St Peter’s Mumias, Laiser Hill Academy and Koyonzo Secondary School.

The trio will be out to prove that they may have been down for a while but they are still a force to reckon with. St Peter’s and Laiser Hill return to the nationals after many years in the cold while Koyonzo lost both the national and East Africa gongs last year.

St Mary’s Yala who have been regulars at the nationals will also be a team to beat.