It was an afternoon of loud cheers and excitement at the Nakuru Athletics Club, as rugby players tackled each other across the field, undeterred by light showers during the Andrew (Andy) Onyuna Memorial 7s tournament.

The event drew an impressive turnout according to Simon Wariuki, Head Coach for the Nakuru RFC (Wanyore) team, with both the seniors and age-grade (under 12, 14, and 18) teams competing in full force, to honour the legacy of the former Wanyore player.

With a dominant 39-5 victory by Wanyore over KMTC, it is clear that the home team came prepared to make a statement in this memorial tournament.

Simon Wariuki, Head Coach for the Nakuru RFC (Wanyore) team during an interview at NAC on July 20,2024.

Photo credit: LELETI JASSOR/MTAA WANGU

“We had so many teams show up for the inaugural tournament but unfortunately couldn’t participate because of time constraints, as it is a day’s event, but we are happy with the turnout and support we received today.”

With Andy remembered as a nurturer of talent, the coach emphasizes that this improvement in play, particularly among the younger age groups, serves as a fitting tribute to his memory.

“It is encouraging to see a steady improvement in the uptake of the game in the age-grade category. Although it’s a slow but steady progression, this reflects Andy’s memory in developing talent among younger players,” he says.

Wariuki notes, “We had a successful event today and achieved 90 percent of what we had initially planned. In the future, I'd encourage more partners to join the endeavour because it's about giving back to one of our own.”

As we head for the National Sevens circuit, Wariuki notes the team- Wanyore- is improving ahead of the competition with a few loose screws to tighten.

Reflecting on the team's performance, the coach notes, "I'm seeing improvements with both local and out-of-town competitions. We're making progress after each tournament. However, our defence still needs work, and we have to tighten a few loose screws in the area to avoid being defeated by other teams."

Wanyore steal the show at Andrew Onyuna memorial tournament

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Leleti Jassor