Former Kenyan international rugby player Patrice Agunda is set to participate in a one-month coaching exchange program in Japan.
During this time, the Kenya Harlequin assistant will collaborate with renowned coaches Eddie Jones and Toshiaki Hirose, the newly appointed team manager, as part of the Japanese national rugby team.
This program, organized through a partnership between DBA Africa and Wazi Wazi, a Japanese corporation supporting Kenyan sporting talents, aims to enhance Kenya’s rugby coaching expertise. The initiative seeks to elevate the coaching standards not only at the DBA Rugby Academy but throughout Kenya.
During a visit to the DBA Academy last year, Toshiaki Hirose, a former Japanese national team captain and current team manager, noted the parallels between Japan’s rugby development a few years ago and Kenya’s current stage. Japan has risen significantly in world rugby rankings, now being among the top 10 nations, a milestone that Kenyan rugby enthusiasts aspire to achieve.
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Through this exchange, Patrice will participate in the training camps of both the Japanese national team and the under-20 team. He will also have the privilege of being on the sidelines for Japan’s matches against the New Zealand Māori and England. Notably, the Japan versus England match will mark the first encounter between the two teams on Japanese soil.
Patrice, a distinguished player in both the Kenyan sevens and 15s teams, currently serves on the coaching staff at Kenya Harlequins and the DBA Rugby Academy at Kenton College. The experience and knowledge he will gain from this exchange are expected to open new coaching opportunities for him in Kenya and internationally.
Kenny Andola, head of the DBA Academy and assistant coach for the Kenyan U20s, expressed enthusiasm about the opportunity presented to Patrice and DBA through this partnership with Wazi Wazi.
“Giving Patrice exposure to a top international coaching setup is a dream come true for him. The knowledge and experience he will gain will greatly benefit DBA, our coaches, athletes, and Kenyan rugby as a whole,” he said.
Patrice will depart for Japan on Friday, May 31st, and return at the end of June. The DBA Academy conducts its sessions every Sunday at Kenton College in Kileleshwa, starting at 10 am.
