PANAPRESS
Panafrican News Agency
Kenya: Portugal to play IRB Test matches in Nairobi
Nairobi, Kenya (PANA) - Portugal will be in Nairobi for rugby Tests with Kenyan on 7 and 11 June, the Portugal Rugby President Carlos Amado da Silva has confirmed.
Da Silva wrote to the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), saying: “Many thanks and it is an honour for Portugal to accept the invitation of IRB [International Rugby Board] and Kenya to play these international Test matches.”
The KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee consequently said it was full steam ahead for the two Tests that will be part of Kenya’s preparations for the June/July Africa Zone qualifiers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Muthee said: “It will be a great honour, too, for KRU to host Portugal in Nairobi.”
He extended a personal invitation to the Portugal Rugby President to attend the games in Nairobi.
“Let’s hope this will open a long-term sporting partnership between Portugal and Kenya rugby,” the KRU chairman said.
He added that KRU was grateful for the IRB’s approval for the Tests and especially to Mark Egan the IRB Head of Development and Performance.
“Our team, ranked 32nd in the world, should prove its worth going up against Portugal, the No. 24 team and repay the IRB confidence that we are capable of organizing decent Test matches. I will call upon those in the KRU charged with organizing the Portugal visit to do their level best to ensure success.
“I am sure that the recent experience gained by the Kenyan players in the Vodacom Cup in South Africa will prove useful and also that our rugby supporters will be able to see firsthand whether the team has made strides.”
Muthee also added: “Hosting Portugal in Kenya’s first ever Tests with an overseas side will also challenge our capacity to organize sporty on the international scale. We just recently hosted the Africa Women’s Sevens Championship in a small rural town [Machakos] and we were delighted to have some of the IRB international and regional development experts in attendance.”
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 1May2014
Da Silva wrote to the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), saying: “Many thanks and it is an honour for Portugal to accept the invitation of IRB [International Rugby Board] and Kenya to play these international Test matches.”
The KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee consequently said it was full steam ahead for the two Tests that will be part of Kenya’s preparations for the June/July Africa Zone qualifiers for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Muthee said: “It will be a great honour, too, for KRU to host Portugal in Nairobi.”
He extended a personal invitation to the Portugal Rugby President to attend the games in Nairobi.
“Let’s hope this will open a long-term sporting partnership between Portugal and Kenya rugby,” the KRU chairman said.
He added that KRU was grateful for the IRB’s approval for the Tests and especially to Mark Egan the IRB Head of Development and Performance.
“Our team, ranked 32nd in the world, should prove its worth going up against Portugal, the No. 24 team and repay the IRB confidence that we are capable of organizing decent Test matches. I will call upon those in the KRU charged with organizing the Portugal visit to do their level best to ensure success.
“I am sure that the recent experience gained by the Kenyan players in the Vodacom Cup in South Africa will prove useful and also that our rugby supporters will be able to see firsthand whether the team has made strides.”
Muthee also added: “Hosting Portugal in Kenya’s first ever Tests with an overseas side will also challenge our capacity to organize sporty on the international scale. We just recently hosted the Africa Women’s Sevens Championship in a small rural town [Machakos] and we were delighted to have some of the IRB international and regional development experts in attendance.”
-0- PANA DJ/VAO 1May2014
