• The proposal was reached at on Monday
• The players now insist they will not return to training, until the agreed modalities are honoured,
Senior Kenya Sevens players have questioned a return-to-work formula that seeks to end their four-month standoff with Kenya Rugby Union.
The proposal was reached at on Monday but some players have already accused the union of failing to honour part of their bargain, which included issuance of a letter that detailed the terms and conditions of their return to training ahead of Hong Kong and Singapore Sevens set for next month.
Instead, they were told they would pick them on March 30, a day before departure to Hong Kong, the sixth leg of the World Sevens Series.
The players now insist they will not return to training, until the agreed modalities are honoured, claiming they feel short-charged by the union.
“We don’t know what’s going at the union. Personally, I won’t resume training until I see the said letter, those who want to continue training are free to do so. This is a personal decision, let the players decide,” one of the players noted.
The cat and mouse game between the KRU and the players appeared to come to an end on Monday when the union made the announcement of them resuming training. According to a source at the Union, there was a potential sponsor willing to come on board, only if the senior players were back in the squad, leaving KRU between a rock and a hard place, hence the move to recall the striking players back.
The union was also reported to be banking on the sponsorship promise made by President Uhuru Kenyatta when he announced all federations will be financially supported by the government.
Shujaa are staring at relegation from the World Sevens Series, where they lie 14th with 18 points after six tournaments. USA lead the standings with 103 points followed by world and Commonwealth champions New Zealand (106 points) and Olympic champions, Fiji (101 points).
“We continue to make forward and backward steps but the stakes are changing. The elections have also played a part in arriving at a truce,” the source revealed.
As it stands now, the players who have been with the team for the last few legs will continue training while the senior players continue to hold talks with the union.