Kenya have been drawn against France, Scotland and Portugal in a tricky Pool ‘C’ in London Sevens this weekend.
Kenya will open proceedings against Portugal before taking on Scotland. They wind up the group fixtures against France. Kenya beat Portugal 29-14 on Friday and have winning record against the Europeans. They beat Portugal 43-5 in Vancouver and 26-5 in Wellington in January.
Scotland will be tricky test for Kenya with the two sides having clashed in Singapore last month drawing 12-12 and Shujaa winning 17-14 in Sydney
France have had the upper hand over Kenya this season, winning three times—28-26 in Cape Town, 24-21 in Vancouver and 24-5 in Paris on Sunday. Shujaa have registered one win against the Les Blues (28-7) in Singapore in the Main Cup quarter-finals
Kenya bagged 10 points from the performance in Paris over the weekend to stay in seventh position with 95 points and are on course for their highest points tally in 17 years. The previous best points tally was in the 2012-2013 season under former coach Mike Friday where Kenya amassed 99 points from nine tournaments.
Forward Willy Ambaka, who sustained a shoulder injury in the match against France, should be fit to play in London with Ayimba terming the injury minor.
Head coach Benjamin Ayimba was pleased with the points accumulated in Paris and has urged his charges to finish the season on high in London.
“I am delighted with he overall performance of the team. There are a few areas we have to work on in the coming few days and we should be in a strong position to challenge for honours in London,” added Ayimba.
Ayimba has termed the season a success, saying the team will be strong contender for medal in Rio. “The team is gearing up nicely for the Olympics, which is the ultimate goal. We won Singapore and the belief and drive in the team is high and come Rio, we will be in peak condition,” he said.
London pools.
Pool A: Samoa, South Africa, USA, Canada; Pool B: Fiji, Australia, England, Wales; Pool C: France, Kenya, Scotland, Portugal; Pool D: Argentina, New Zealand, Russia, Brazil.