Rugby

Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses set up camp in Miramas, eye Olympic and HSBC success

Kenya Lionesses pose for a photo with Miraras city mayor Frédéric Vigouroux

By Rama Mohammed | Thursday, May 23, 2024

The camp in Miramas is organised by the National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK)

The Kenyan National men’s and women’s rugby teams, Shujaa and Lionesses, have officially checked into their pre-Olympics camp in the city of Miramas, France.

Today, they had the honor of welcoming the Mayor of Miramas, Frédéric Vigouroux, who visited the camp to show his support and solidarity with the teams.

Keep reading

Shujaa, after their impressive qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games against former African champions South Africa, have been diligently concentrating on reclaiming their core status in the HSBC World Rugby Series. This series not only acts as a crucial stepping stone for their Olympic preparations, now just 64 days away but also serves as a platform to fine-tune their skills and strategies.

Their recent performance in Munich, Germany, where they secured a commendable 5th place, showcases their determination and readiness as they strive to solidify their position among the elite teams in the rugby world.

The Kenya Lionesses, are also also focused on impressing at their third consecutive appearance on the world’s biggest stage. After narrowly missing the sole African ticket to the Lady Boks, the Lionesses have one last chance to secure their spot in Paris. The team will train in Miramas for two weeks before coming back to Nairobi for a week and flying back to Miramas to train for one more week before heading to Monaco on 21-23 June 2024. A venue that has hosted final qualification events before the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Lionesses lay in Pool A in the qualifiers against Argentina, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa, while in the playoffs Shujaa lay in Pool B against host Spain, Samoa, and Chile.

During their training period in Miramas, both teams will engage in test matches with various French rugby teams. These matches are designed to maintain their competitive momentum and acclimatized conditions like those of the upcoming competitions.

"We are delighted to be in camp here in Miramas, as opposed to going back home and then returning later for the challenger series," said Co-Captain Tony Omondi,

"This setup allows us to stay focused and train in conditions akin to those we will face in the competitions." He concluded.