Lionesses Rugby Super Series match cancelled
Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 22.05.24. | 17:30
According to KRU, the World Rugby 10-day return-to-play protocol would expire on Thursday, May 23, leaving just one training day before the scheduled match.
The Kenya 15s ladies national team, the Lionesses, will not compete in the 2024 Rugby Super Series as initially planned.
The Lionesses missed the first two legs of the series and were set to participate in the final two rounds. However, days before the third round in Kakamega, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) announced that the match between the Eagles and Jaguars was cancelled due to World Rugby's return-to-play regulations. This match was postponed to the final leg scheduled at RFUEA Grounds on Saturday, May 25.
In a recent communication, the Union noted that the final match was also cancelled due to concerns about player availability, welfare, and safety.
According to KRU, the World Rugby 10-day return-to-play protocol would expire on Thursday, May 23, leaving just one training day before the scheduled match.
Additionally, the Union highlighted that some key players set to compete in the series were traveling with the Lionesses 7s team to Krakow, Poland, for the final HSBC Challenger Series. They then proceeded to Miramas, France, for a camp.
As a result, it would be impossible to field two competitive teams, aligning with the aims of the Rugby Super Series.
"Following consultations between the Rugby Super Series Organizing Committee, Kenya Lionesses Management, and the Kenya Rugby Union, it has been decided to cancel the women’s match between the Eagles and the Jaguars, originally scheduled for 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 25, 2024," part of the Union's statement read.
"The key factors that have contributed to this decision are player welfare and safety and player availability. We thank our fans and partners for their understanding," the statement concluded.
Meanwhile, the men's matches will proceed as planned.
Menengai Cream Cheetahs will face the KCB Bank Lions, while Faiba Mobile Rhinos will tackle Kabras Sugar Buffaloes.
The Cheetahs will be looking to bounce back after suffering a 27-23 defeat to the Rhinos at the ASK Kakamega Showground last weekend, relinquishing their top spot on the log. The Rhinos, on the other hand, will be keen to secure their second win of the series.
The Lions are in pursuit of a third win in the series, while the Buffaloes aim to improve their bottom-of-the-table performance. The Max Adaka charges failed to impress on their home turf, succumbing to a 20-5 defeat in a game that ended prematurely.
This year’s Rugby Super Series follows a round-robin format, with matches taking place across Nairobi, Nakuru, and Kakamega over three match days. The top two teams from the round-robin stage will compete for the championship title in a high-stakes final match.
Additionally, the 2024 series introduced a women’s competition, marking a significant step for women’s rugby in the region. The women’s division features two teams, the Eagles and Jaguars, competing over two match days.
