Kenya Lionesses had a number of matches in 2023 and had each good and unhealthy runs within the occasions that they had within the interval.
Scrummage Africa takes a take a look at the place they impressed and the place they didn’t shine within the occasions they featured in.
Kenya Lionesses win Elgon Cup
The Elgon Cup was the foremost trophy the Lionesses managed to lock of their cupboard in 2023. The Dennis Mwanja expenses retained the Cup after they fully obliterated Uganda Woman Cranes 15s 87-3 in Kisumu.
Kenya Lionesses teammates throughout her remaining match. PHOTO/Mercy Chebet.
The Lionesses have been hungry proper from the outset of the match, touching down 13 instances through the sport.
Christabel Lindo and Stella Wafula scored a hat-trick every while Sharon Auma, Phoebe Akinyi, Ann Goreti, Religion Livoi, Diana Omosso, Naomi Jelagat and Naomi Amuguni managed to cross over as soon as.
Kenya Lionesses retain WXV 3 Standing
The Lionesses had certified for the WXV 3 event courtesy of ending second within the Africa Rugby Girls’s Cup behind South Africa. They have been pooled alongside Eire, Fiji, Spain, Kazakhstan and Colombia within the WXV 3 event.
The highest 5 groups would seal their slots for subsequent yr’s event whereas the final staff would head for a play-off with the subsequent finest aspect, in line with the World Rugby Girls’s Rankings.
Kenya Lionesses in a previous occasion. PHOTO/ Matchz Media
The Lionesses had had a false begin within the marketing campaign earlier than saving the most effective for final to retain their slot. They have been defeated 32-0 by Spain of their first sport earlier than shedding 18-12 to Kazakhstan within the second sport.
Within the remaining sport, they edged Colombia Girls 21-5, a win that ensured they completed above bottom-placed Colombia.
Sharon Auma had a brace within the sport, Rose Otieno scored one attempt to Anne Goreti booted a drop purpose and a penalty for the win.
The win sealed Kenya’s place within the WXV 3 rugby championship to be performed subsequent yr.
Kenya Lionesses silver
The Lionesses had an awesome outing in Tunisia managing a second-place end after shedding out 12-7 to eventual winners South Africa within the remaining.
That they had earlier white-washed Uganda 27-0 within the semi-finals. Regardless of shedding on a direct Olympic qualification ticket, the Lionesses will nonetheless have an opportunity to battle for an Olympic spot after they head for the repechage in 2024.
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They may sq. it out with the likes of Argentina, China, Czechia, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Samoa and neighbours Uganda.
Lionesses stars invitations
After having profitable outings, a few of the Lionesses stars managed to land call-ups to the Serengeti Elephants Girls’s staff to take part in an annual Rugby 10s Championship event.
Wing Sharon Auma, Stella Wafula, Christabel Lindo, Judith Okumu and playmaker Grace Okulu have been a few of the stars chosen.
They Serengeti Elephants managed to win 48-0 in opposition to W.P Rugby and 19-7 in opposition to Cape city Wild Canines of their preliminary matches earlier than falling to Honey Bargers 22-5 within the finals.
The duo of Judith Okumu and Stella Wafula have been instrumental in 19-7 Serengeti’s win over Cape City Wild Canines as they every scored a attempt.
Kenya Lionesses overseas
In February, Kenyan worldwide fly-half Grace Adhiambo Okulu joined Japanese membership aspect, Nagato Blue Angels.
The fly-half joined the membership on a six-month deal and was a core a part of their native sevens marketing campaign which kicked off on 11 February and ran until July.
Kenya Lionesses Christabel Lindo in motion in opposition to South Africa. Picture Courtesy/KRU.
She joined fellow Kenya Lionesses star Janet Okello who signed a contract extension with Japanese aspect MIE Girls’s Rugby Pearls for yet one more yr in March 2023 after a formidable run within the opening yr.
Kenya Lionesses Misses
Shedding Safari 7s
The Lionesses didn’t retain the Safari 7s title after they have been overwhelmed 15-12 by a decided Uganda Woman Cranes outfit.
Coming to this event, the Lionesses have been lacking 5 of their gamers who had gone to ply their commerce within the Rugby 10s Championship in South Africa.
The Woman Cranes have been resolute in defence and barely gave Kenyans a room to run.
Nyachio Sinaida and Naomi Amuguni have been the one attempt scorers for Kenya in that remaining performed at rain-soaked RFUEA grounds.
Uganda on the opposite aspect scored three unconverted tries by means of Agnes Nakuya, Lydia Namabiro and Ruth Nadunga to bag the win.
Lionesses additionally lacking out on a direct Olympics slot may be counted as a miss however they nonetheless have an opportunity to redeem themselves within the Repechage.
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