The returning annual George Mwangi Kabeberi Sevens tourney will be kicked off by a ‘Mashemeji’ derby pitting Kabras Sugar and Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) at 9 am. The overall series defending champions KCB will step into the arena next to take on the Western Bulls. Later at 10 am the hosts who are also the tournament’s defending champions Mwamba will open the campaign against Mean Machine.

The return of the local circuit after a two-year wait has brought huge excitement to the local rugby scene with teams promising a mighty rivalry renewal whereby only the teams that had a good pre-season will have better odds in the shorter version of the game.

According to the Kenya Rugby Union chairman Gangla Oduor, the circuit will bring back the Sevens thrill and feel after a long wait spelt by the coronavirus pandemic.

The Union boss agreed the absence of the local circuit for the period partly contributed to the stooped Kenya Sevens’ performance. Only the 13-man Shujaa squad will miss the two local Sevens opener legs due to commitments in Toulouse and the London Sevens.

They will join the rest on June 18-19 at the Mombasa Sports Club in contention for the DriftWood Sevens.

 “The Sevens players were getting comfortable but the good thing is the circuit is back. This is a great moment for us to select the best and for our current Sevens players, they now have to show that indeed they are the boss in this game. There is so much excitement and anticipation ahead of Kabeberi and we hope fans can turn up in large numbers to support all the 32 teams in both divisions,” Oduor told Wikendi Sport.

KCB head coach Dennis Mwanja has named his star-studded outfit, highlighting eleven experienced scoring machines including Kenyan internationals and a trio that represented the Bankers in the 2021 Safari sevens. 

Jacob Ojee, Geoffrey Okwatch, Shaban Ahmed, Michael Wanjala, Isaac Njoroge, Arthur Owira, Mike Kimwele, Levy Amunga, Elphas Adunga, Bob Muhati and Brian Kilwake are part of the 13-man squad to seek medal honours this weekend.   

 The Bankers will face a Kakamega based trio in pool A of the competition. Their opener match against Western Bulls will be followed by a much-anticipated clash against Kabras Sugar at 12.10pm while their closing match will be against MMUST at 3pm.

Kabeberi sevens defending champs Mwamba will kick off against Mean Machine followed by another varsity side- Strathmore Oilers before wrapping up their top eight contentions against Nondescripts at 3.40pm.