In a strategic move aimed at fortifying Kenya’s Under-18 rugby talent pipeline, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has embarked on a project in collaboration with the country’s public and International schools.
The move will be spearheaded by the KRU development department under the leadership of Ronald Okoth and Kenya U-18 coach Paul Odera.
The initiative, which is designed to nurture young talent, is set to elevate the nation’s rugby prowess from the grassroots level to the international stage.
Under the auspices of the 15's High-Performance Programme, a total of 60 upcoming players from each region will be integrated into the program.
The selection process, which draws talent from the ongoing 15's schools games, is a concerted effort to identify and groom the next generation of rugby stars.
A provisional team of 60 players will be picked at the end of the National Secondary School Championships in Machakos next week, according to Odera.
Odera attended the Nyanza and Nairobi regional finals and spoke to various school coaches, who will play a pivotal role in nurturing and identifying talent in the nine KRU regions.
The regional development officers and I have been scouting for talent in various parts of the country," noted Odera.
Odera said the programme aims at facilitating a seamless transition of players from school rugby to club engagements and ultimately representing the nation on the international stage.
"The pivotal role of the programme is to enhance the depth of talent within the U-18 15's setup and ensure a robust pathway towards the U20 program and, ultimately, the esteemed Simbas team."
The international schools will have their trials on May 12 at Hillcrest Schools. The final team is slated to be known by the end of May and is slated to play in international tournaments in either South Africa or Zimbabwe depending on the availability of funds.
