Kabras RFC have made several changes to their squad ahead of the Driftwood 7s in Mombasa, with co-captain Derrick Ashihundu among the notable absentees as the Kakamega-based side looks to bounce back from a disappointing Kabeberi 7s campaign.
Head coach Ntabeni Dukisa has opted to freshen up his squad for the fourth leg of the SportPesa National 7s Circuit, handing recalls to Jackson Siketa and Rayvon Ambale, while also bringing in Griffin Chao as Kabras continue their push for the overall title.
Ashihundu will miss his first tournament of the season alongside Eric Cantona, Roy Maruti and James Olela. Their absence presents an opportunity for the younger members of the squad to step up as Kabras look to close the six-point gap separating them from leaders KCB Rugby.
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Siketa and Ambale return after missing the Kabeberi 7s as they recovered from knocks sustained during Kenya U20’s successful campaign at the Rugby Africa Barthes Trophy. Their return provides Kabras with valuable experience and added pace as they head to Mombasa Sports Club.
Kabras will be keen to put their Kabeberi disappointment behind them. The former circuit leaders made a strong start in the pool stages, opening with a convincing 29-7 victory over MMUST before dispatching Nakuru RFC 31-14.
Their campaign, however, suffered a setback in their final pool match when they were beaten 12-7 by arch-rivals KCB Rugby. The defeat did little to derail their qualification for the knockout stages, but the bigger disappointment came in the quarter-finals when Menengai Oilers edged them 12-7 to send Kabras crashing out of the competition.
The result saw Kabras surrender the lead in the National 7s Circuit standings, leaving them six points behind KCB heading into the Driftwood 7s. With the title race entering a crucial stage, every point in Mombasa could prove decisive.
Kabras have been drawn in a challenging pool alongside Kenya Harlequin, Nondescripts and tournament hosts Mombasa, setting the stage for another demanding weekend.
The return of Ambale and Siketa is expected to strengthen the side, while the continued inclusion of Patrick Lumumba, Ronald Wangila, Michael Lukusi, Adrian Khwesa and Mathias Osimbo gives the coaching team some continuity.
Kevin Wekesa, Brian Tanga and Jone Kubu have also retained their places for a second successive tournament, with Brian Mutua making his third appearance of the season.
The youngsters will now have the responsibility of carrying the fight for Kabras as they seek to regain momentum in the title race. With little room for error at this stage of the campaign, Dukisa will be hoping his revamped squad can deliver when the action gets underway in Mombasa.
Kabras RFC squad for Driftwood 7s
Brian Mutua, Patrick Lumumba, Kevin Wekesa, Ronald Wangila, Bryceson Adaka, Griffin Chao, Rayvon Ambale, Jackson Siketa, Michael Lukusi, Brian Tanga, Adrian Khwesa, Jone Kubu and Mathias Osimbo.
Management: Wilson Omondi, Ntabeni Dukisa, Thomas Simiyu, Richard Ochieng, Philemon Odidi, Nicolas Musembi and Max Adaka.