NAIROBI, March 22 (Xinhua) -- The quest to win medals at the Commonwealth Games and Rugby World Cup Sevens for the country's sevens team is the immediate priority of the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU).
Podium finishes at the global events that will be held in Gold Coast, Australia and San Francisco, United States in April and July forms the platform of the Union's program that further aims to secure a first ever Rugby World Cup qualification for the senior 15s side.
Raising the profile of the women's sevens team-Lionesses- to match that of their male-Shujaa-counterparts is the other key pillar of the ambitious plan the governing body has in the short term.
Speaking on Thursday after his re-election, KRU Vice-chairman, Thomas Opiyo maintained having a stable Board to run the sport in the country was critical in achieving the lofty objectives.
Opiyo will serve as Vice-chairman for a fourth term after seeing off the stiff challenge from Moses Ndale by 31 votes to 21 to retain his seat during the elections.
"We want a podium finish so that we get a medal at the Commonwealth and Sevens World Cup and in the international circuit, we are targeting a top five finish," Opiyo said of the sevens side.
The re-elected Vice-chairman stressed the recent hiring of New Zealand nationals, Ian Snook (head coach) and Murray Roulston (assistant) to the helm of 15s outfit was aimed at inspiring the side to make the World Cup next year (Sept. 20 to Nov. 2).
"In 15s there is only one objective. We have already brought in two expert New Zealand coaches and they will cost a tidy sum of money but it shows our seriousness with regards to wanting to qualify for the World Cup," Opiyo said.
"We have taken that leap of faith and we believe they will sort out the few areas where we still need help. We shall have five internationals, three are in Kenya and two away and at the end of that, we hope to qualify after that," he added.
Simbas will bid to make a first ever Rugby World Cup that will mark its ninth running in Japan through the Africa Gold Cup and if that fails, they will turn to the route where continental runners-up are paired against each other.
The Lionesses will travel to the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series leg in Hong Kong as well as the Commonwealth.
"Those two are good for us now and our ladies are number two in Africa to South Africa but the gap is not big because in our last engagement with them, we went to sudden death.
"We want our ladies to start competing on the global scene like the men in sevens aside, that is the level we want to elevate them through playing in many events," Opiyo underpinned.
He admitted getting exposure for the age sides remains a challenge to the Union that is seeking to attract partners and broadcast partners to fill its drying coffers.
"A lot of them are in school and you have to look activities for them when they are in holiday because it involves travelling outside the country. Our biggest challenge is getting enough funding for all programs we have in place.
"We are speaking to the government and sponsors and if you have a board where there is too much noise and no faith, they will shy away. One of the things we have done for the last two years is bringing stability to the board and we will continue doing that," he stressed.
