Kenya bids to host rugby operations in Africa

“Jean-Luc Barthes, the IRB Development Manager for Africa, was here and we suggested to him that Kenya is ready to offer herself as the hub of African operations,” he said.

The KRU boss revealed that Susan Carty, the IRB Women’s Development Officer who was also present, was impressed on her assessment of the union’s activities.

Other CAR executive committee members present who were impressed by the success of the tournament were Gifty Ann Mayers, the director in
charge of the women’s game, and Coralie Foucras.

Mwangi said Kenya has the personnel and physical structures to support the African programmes and therefore stands a better chance in her push to be the headquarters of Africa’s IRB Development Programmes.

“We have also learnt from the CAR tournament and will be implementing lessons to improve women’s rugby,” he said.

He called on African countries to emulate Zimbabwe, which has outstanding features in All-Women Management — the coaches, strength
and conditioning expert, medic and team manager.

“The Kenyan Women Sevens Team have vast experience in the game and I
would urge them to cut a niche in the future of the sport by training as coaches, managers or other technical experts. Those are some of the
regular capacity building programmes Africa desperately needs from the
IRB,” he added.