Kenya rugby team to miss top players for Las Vegas Sevens

Source: Xinhua| 2019-02-28 03:11:41|Editor: yan
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NAIROBI, Feb. 27 (Xinhua) -- Kenya will miss key player Johnstone Olindi, who has been ruled out of this weekend's Las Vegas Sevens rugby tournament in the USA, which is another heavy blow to the injury-hit team.

Kenya, which need to pick up a point to move away from the relegation train, face a daunting task when they take on in-form side and hosts USA, France and Argentina.

Head coach Paul Murunga, who is missing several first team players, must seek alternative player after Olindi was left stranded in Nairobi when the team departed for the USA earlier this week. Edmund Anya is set to debut for Kenya in the U.S. leg.

"I have made four changes to the team that in Sydney and Hamilton. Harold Anduvate is out with an injury he picked during a local derby, (Mark) Wandeto is also out on injury while Eliakim (KIchoi) and (William) Reeve have been rested from International duty.

The four have been replaced by Herman Humwa, Charles Owino, Edmund Anya and Michael Agevi," said Murunga in Nairobi.

Though Olindi is out of Vegas Sevens, he is expected to join the squad in Canada for Vancouver Sevens that takes place from March 9-10.

The Kenyan team heads to Vegas sitting in position 13 on the leaderboard for the rugby World Sevens Series with 12 points, just one above Japan who are at position 15, the relegation point.

This year's World Series will serve as the first chance for Tokyo Olympic Games qualification. The top four teams will secure direct tickets to the Olympics.

The teams that miss out will contest at the continental level to win the tickets to Tokyo 2020.

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