National Sevens Series champions KCB will join defending champions Shujaa and Morans for the Safari Sevens tournament slated for October 10-12 at Nyayo Stadium.
The bankers were initially supposed to be one of the standby teams for the three-day tournament, but have now been confirmed for the 12-team tournament.
Interim head coach Andrew Amonde, who will be without several of his star players, owing to national team engagement, is bullish about his side's prospects in the two-day tournament.
“We have a big squad of 22 players, and most of the time, we have only used 14 in the circuit. So we have depth, and we will utilise the remaining eight for the Safari Sevens. I'm confident they will be competitive irrespective of who we face in the tournament," noted Amonde.
The bankers finished sixth at the 2023 Safari Sevens, going down 26-0 to Morans in the fifth/sixth place play-off. Amonde believes the young squad can replicate the performance from two seasons ago.
“We were in a similar situation in 2023, and our players rose to the occasion. So we expect the same from the same from the team this time around,” noted Amonde.
Following a two-week break from the Seven Series, the team resumes training this week and will look at improving the kickoff reception and defence alignment.
"There are a couple of issues to fix. Our kickoff is one area we have to work on despite winning the circuit and improving our defence pattern,” said Amonde.
Brian Wahinya, Bob Muhati, Emmanuel Opondo, Stephen Osumba, Tyson Maina, Jenkins Kipruto, and Michael Wekesa are among the key players for the tournament.
The three Kenyan sides will be up against Uganda, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Shogun Rugby, French Renegades, Reunion and Apache from the United Kingdom in the men's category.
In the women's category, the tournament will feature defending champions Costa Blanca Barbarians (Spain), Kenya Lionesses and Cubs, Belgium, Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Shogun Club.
The 2025 edition marks the return of the Safari Sevens to Nyayo National Stadium for the first time since 2021, when Shujaa defeated Germany in the final to lift the trophy. The tournament was held at the RFUEA grounds in 2023 and at Machakos Stadium in 2024.
This year will be the fourth time the 35,000-seater Nyayo Stadium hosts the event, having previously staged it in 2011, 2012, and 2021 after attendance outgrew the RFUEA grounds.
