Kenyan players Derrick Ashihundu, Jactone Omondi, Richel Wangila, and Zeden Marrow, alongside their female counterparts Christable Lindo, Grace Okullo, Judith Okumu and Stella Wafula helped the Serengeti Elephants win the opening round of the Rugby 10s Championship in California.
The Kenyans represented their team in a mixed final, where the ladies played the first half and the men played the second.
Elephants lead
The squad, led by Lindo, Okullo, and Okello, secured a 5-0 lead in the opening half. The men then held Cape Town Wild Dogs to a 5-5 draw in the second half, clinching a 10-5 victory overall.
Serengeti Elephants women’s and men’s squad. PHOTO/R10C
In the group stages, the men’s Elephants team dominated, defeating San Clement Rhinos 32-0 and Balkans Honey Badgers 19-12 to top their group.
Meanwhile, the women’s side finished second in their group, with a 17-10 win over San Clement Rhinos and a 27-5 victory over Honey Badgers.
The top two teams advanced to the mixed final, with both the women’s and men’s squads contributing in each half to secure the overall win.
Stella Wafula celebrates with Serengeti Elephants. squad. PHOTO/R10C
This marked the fourth edition of the Rugby 10s Championship, held in the USA for the first time. Since 2021, the tournament has promoted equal rugby opportunities for men and women, with teams from over 25 countries competing for the Franchise Champion Trophy and a share of $1,000,000 in prizes.