NAIROBI, Sept. 18 (Xinhua) -- Only 12 teams will compete in the Africa Men's Sevens rugby tournament, which will be held in October in Monastir, Tunisia.
Defending champion Kenya will use the tournament as part of their preparations for the rugby World Series, a 10-leg circuit, which will launch its campaign in Dubai in December.
Abdelaziz Bougja, president of Rugby Africa, said he expects the teams to showcase their best talents and make the tournament entertaining.
"It is a tournament that unites the whole of Africa around the values of rugby. We use the opportunity to organize youth tournaments, training sessions, and it is to the benefit of the entire rugby community," Bougja told Xinhua on Tuesday.
The Africa Men's Sevens tournament was renamed after the Rugby Africa's Sevens tournament and will be held on Oct. 13-14.
A total of 12 teams will compete. However, there will be no South African side in the tournament.
The participating teams are Kenya, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Zambia, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, Botswana, Ghana, Mauritius and Namibia.
The tournaments will be played over two match days and the winner of "Africa Men's Sevens" will be the 2018 African Champion.
Meanwhile, former Kenya Sevens head coach Benjamin Ayimba believes his countryman Paul Murunga will emerge top in the recruitment process to take over the leadership of the national team after the contract of current coach Innocent Simiyu expires on October 31.
Simiyu has opted not to renew his contract and Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) has advertised the vacant position attracting 12 candidates, seven of which are foreign coaches.
Kenya has only appointed two foreign coaches before for the position, Englishman Mike Friday and South African Paul Treu.
The winning candidate will be named next week to start the team's preparation for both the Africa Men's Sevens tournament and the annual Safari 7s tournament.
"There is no other coach better placed for the national team than Paul (Murunga). He has achieved locally what no other coach has. I mean winning four out of six legs of the national circuit is not a mean feat and this is something that he has done repeatedly. Give him the job," said Ayimba.
"He has worked under me with the national team and club rugby and I know his work ethic, I know what he can do and I know he can handle this job."
Murunga has also said he is ready to take up the challenge and guide Kenya in the World Series.
"I have worked as an assistant coach and I have also worked with the Kenya 15s team. I have learned more along the road and I think I am more than able to take over the job if given the chance," said Murunga.
