Chris Kimeli presenting IRB balls to SU Rugby Coach Mitch Ocholla (right)

Strathmore University in conjunction with The Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) successfully hosted the Level 1 IRB (International Rugby Board) Coaching course on Saturday, 2nd August 2008 at its Madaraka campus. The intense course that took one day was attended by a total of 46 players and coaches.

In attendance was Kenya's Under 19 team that was preparing for the world youth championships qualifier. The course was facilitated by IRB accredited instructors Paul Odera, Eric Situma, Herbert Mwachiro, Oliver Kituyi and Fred Ollows who is also the KRFU Development Officer.

The course acts as a foundation of Rugby coaching course. It includes planning aspects and the principles of Rugby including the statistics and analysis of team and individual play. Strathmore Rugby head coach Mitch Ocholla said that the course could not have come at a better time bearing in mind the new law variations in the game that players need to understand well. "It makes coaching easier when you have players who are familiar with the technical requirements of the game," Mitch said.

The University was rewarded with IRB rugby balls for the efforts it put in organizing the coaching clinic. The KRFU development Officer Mr Ollows said that it was a good thing that Strathmore agreed to host the coaching clinic. The university Sports Officer Mr Isaac Mwangi said the University was working on the modalities of hosting IRB level 2 and Sevens coaching courses in the near future.