MMUST Rugby Club Coach John Asila has expressed his team’s determination to improve in this year’s National 7s Circuit, set to begin with the Dala 7s on July 1 and 2.

The team finished 10th in the 2022 season, with their best performance being in the Kabeberi tournament, where they accumulated 12 points and reached the quarterfinals in the Dala, Prinsloo, and Kakamega 7s.

MMUST discipline

Asila believes that if his players maintain discipline and stay in shape throughout the season, they can achieve better results this year.

“We hope to improve from last season, but we must work hard to ensure the boys stay in shape the entire season. If they stay disciplined and be in shape, everything will be okay,” he told People Daily Digital.

MMUST have had a productive pre-season, winning the Jinja 7s in Uganda, Bungoma 7s, and Kisii 7s. Additionally, they have participated in two Sugarbelt friendlies against Kabras, Kisumu, and Western Bulls across two weekends.

Asila stated that their preparations are on the right track, and the team is almost ready for the upcoming campaign.

“I think we are on course on how it should be prepared. We started easy and slowly and we have picked up well,” he added.

MMUST losing players

Despite the loss of several key players due to relegation and University completion, Asila believes the new players are performing well and are eager to learn.

“The team we have now is playing better, and they are more focused, disciplined, and ready to learn,” he stated.

He also acknowledged that university teams experience player turnover and emphasized the importance of providing opportunities for young players to step up and develop.

“Those who are leaving we wish them well. They served us well and it is a good thing. Their exit will give the young guys an opportunity to step up. As a University, we will always have players moving out and that is a process that we have to live with,”

“Universities are transition places, we want to develop and nature. As long we can do that, it’s good to allow them to get opportunities elsewhere,” he concluded

Regarding the upcoming Dala 7s, which will be held at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium Mamboleo on July 1 and 2, the pools have been announced.

Menengai Oilers, the reigning National Sevens Circuit champions, are the top seeds in Pool A, while KCB, the runners-up from the previous season, are in Pool B.

Kabras Sugar, the Kenya Cup champions, are placed in Pool C, and Homeboyz, Mwamba, Western Bulls, and Makueni make up Pool D.

The Dala Sevens tournament, hosted by Kisumu RFC, has a rich history dating back to 2003, with intermittent breaks due to logistical challenges and the COVID-19 pandemic.

The upcoming edition promises to be an exciting start to the National 7s Circuit season.

Kenya Rugby rescheduled the fixtures for this year’s campaign and fixed the Tisap Sevens, which was initially set to take place on Saturday, June 24, to run Saturday, September 2, at the Eldoret Sports Club.

The second round of the national circuit, Driftwoods Sevens, will be held Saturday, July 8, at Mombasa Sports Club before the tournament takes a break and gives the World Rugby U20 Trophy in Nairobi in July space.

The national circuit will resume with the Prinsloo Sevens, which will be held at the Nakuru Athletics Club on Saturday, August 5.

The Christie Sevens is set to be staged in Nairobi on Monday, August 7, before the ultimate stage, the George Mwangi Kabeberi Memorial Sevens, is conducted on Saturday, September 9, in Nairobi too.

Dala Sevens

Pool A: Menenegai Oilers, Nakuru, Nondescripts, Catholic Monks

Pool B: KCB, Kenya Harlequin, Masinde Muliro, Mombasa

The division 1 pools are out ahead of the opening round of the 2023 National Sevens Circuit in Kisumu. Watch out for the order of play and division 2 pools in subsequent communications.#Dala7s #NSC2023 pic.twitter.com/2KkGRbA9FX

— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) June 27, 2023

Pool C: Strathmore Leos, Kabras Sugar, Daystar Falcons, Kisumu

Pool D: Homeboyz, Mwamba, Western Bulls, Makueni

National Circuit fixtures

Dala 7s | Kisumu | July 1-2

Driftwood 7s | Mombasa | July 8-9

Prinsloo 7s | Nakuru | August 5-6

Christie 7s | Nairobi | August 12-13

Tisap 7s | Eldoret | September 2-3

Kabeberi 7s | Nairobi | September 9-10