Kenya 7s rugby teams for men and women have been handed tough pools for the Olympics Games set to kick off on August 5 in Rio Brazil.
The men’s side will face New Zealand, Great Britain and Japan in pool C while the Lionesses will be up against New Zealand, France and Spain in Pool B.
The draw was released in Rio on Wednesday. The women’s games will be held between August 6 and 8 and men’s between August 9 and 11.
Both teams comprising 18 players have started training and are expected to camp in Nandi for the next few days before announcing their final squads.
Shujaa head coach Benjamin Ayimba is expected to name his 12-man squad mid July.Lionesses head coach Mike Shamiah has admitted they are in a tough pool but said they are ready for the challenge.
“It’s a tough pool for the ladies but we are ready, our focus now is to step up training before the games kick off,” said Shamiah.
He said he has no injury concerns for his players training at RFUEA grounds.Both teams are expected to depart for Rio on July 24.
Olympics Rugby Sevens Pools are categorized as follows:
Women
Pool A: Australia, USA, Fiji, Colombia
Pool B: New Zealand, France, Spain, Kenya
Pool C: Canada, Great Britain, Brazil, Japan
Men
Pool A: Fiji, USA, Argentina, Brazil
Pool B: South Africa, Australia, France, Spain
Pool C: New Zealand, Great Britain, Kenya, Japan