St Patrick's Iten relishing prospect of rugby giants challenge

St Patrick's High School Iten rugby team players celebrate after beating St Anthony Kitale in the regional finals this month. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

St Patrick's High School Iten are known more for producing world beaters in athletics, but they are coming to the National Secondary School games in Eldoret to represent Rift Valley in Rugby 15s.

The last time the Iten-based athletics giant made an attempt in rugby was in 2010 when it sent a sevens team to the nationals.

Saints, as it is popularly known boasts of a rich list of legendary athletes such as the three-time winner of the Boston Marathon Ibrahim Hussein, Matthew Birir, an Olympic gold medallist and World Junior champion, Michael Boit (Olympic bronze medallist) who is also the current professor of sports science at Kenyatta University and William Chirchir - a former World Junior champion as well as World Junior record holder Japheth Kimutai.

Former World record holder in 3000m steeplechase and Olympic medallist Wilson Boit Kipketer was also a product of St Patrick's.

It will be the first time St Patrick's is sending a rugby 15s aside team to the national secondary school games.

The Term One secondary school action is set to start in Eldoret on Tuesday, with regional teams comprising the hosts Rift Valley, Nyanza, Western, Nairobi, Central, Coast, Eastern and North Eastern arriving in Eldoret tomorrow for a bonanza likely to be characterised by close contests in ball games and athletics.

St Patrick's coach Bernard Indasi said his rugby 15s team is aware of the tough assignment of battling experienced rugby teams at the nationals.

The team beat St Anthony Kitale 10-8 in a close contest for the Rift Valley title in Eldoret earlier this month.

His side will be facing Mang'u from the central region, Nairobi's Ofafa Jericho and All Saints (representing Eastern) in the group stages. They are in group A.

Indasi who in 2015 guided Simotwo High School from Elgeyo Marakwet to the Rift Valley regionals title said St Patrick's is ready to prove critics who see them as the underdogs, wrong.

"We have corrected the areas we had weaknesses in during the Rift Valley regional games and perfected the set pieces. We are working hard on the areas of weakness knowing too well that Rugby 15s is a structured game and failure to work on the structures means we will lose, and we don't want to lose any game," Indasi told Standard Sports yesterday.

He added: "Mang'u, Ofafa Jericho and All Saints are experienced teams and are guided by experienced coaches. Ours is to watch our structure because the pool has very tactical and tough teams, but we are ready for them."

Indasi said the St Patrick's boys team is ready and that the players were fit ahead of the national games.

He said St Patrick's school administration had embarked on the mobilisation of fans who will cheer and psyche the team up.

"We are optimistic about beating our rivals at home because Rift Valley is looking up to us. Our players are already psyched up. The school has been supportive in the provision of the necessary equipment and in looking after the players and coaches. As a coach, I am glad that we are set.

"Athletics has been our tradition but we have managed to create a passion for rugby. The boys love the games and these days, they talk about rugby more than athletics," the tactician said.

St Anthony Kitale, the Rift Valley games runner-up, will be playing Kisii, Butula and Kwale Boys in group B.