CAR RUGBY TOURNAMENTS 2010

CAR (The Confederation of Africa Rugby) is the controlling body of African rugby. It operates under the IRB umbrella

Action in the Ivory Coast v Uganda match, 2004.

Tournaments schedule for 2010

Africa Cup, Round 1
Pool A: To be held in Tunis, Tunisia 15-19 June
Teams-Tunisia, Morocco, Senegal, Ivory Coast

Pool B: Venue and dates TBC
Teams-Kenya, Uganda, Cameroun, Zambia

Pool C: To be held in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, June 27-July 4
Teams-Zimbabwe, Madagascar, Namibia, Botswana

Finals: Venue and date TBC-Will be in November
Teams-Pool winners and best runner up

Ivory Coast in action against Senegal, May 2007. Ivory Coast won 12-10. Image thanks to http://rugbivoire.midiblogs.com

CAR Trophy
North Pool: Venue Niamey, Niger 17-27 July
Teams-Niger, Mali, Burkino Faso, Benin, Niger, Ghana, Togo, Nigeria, Congo

Central Pool: Venue-Burundi; Dates TBC
Teams-Burundi, Rwanda, Congo DR

South Pool: Venue Arush, Tanzania, 14-19 June
Teams-Tanzania, Reunion, Mauritius, Swaziland

CAR Development Trophy

North Pool: Venue and dates TBC
Teams-Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Egypt

Egypt at the Dubai 7's, 2007. Image thanks to http://www.rugbyegypt.com.

Central Pool: Venue-Gabon; Dates TBC
Teams-Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad

The tournament reflects the three tiers of African rugby. The first tier being the Africa Cup. Last year the Africa Cup also billed as qualification for the 2011 Rugby World Cup Finals. Namibia qualified.

The second tier is the CAR Trophy. In this tier it's surprising to see two teams who are yet to play international rugby; Congo and Congo DR. I would have thought they would be in the development phase. I'm also surprised to see Burundi and Rwanda in this league. Their standard would be somewhat below that of Tanzania.

The Third tier plays for the Development Trophy. Only Mauritania and Chad have previous test experience. But with this and the second tier, teams pull out regularly. Africa is a huge continent. Travel is a nightmare, costly and simply prohibitive for many developing nations. But Africa is also where we have seen the most development and progress in the last 10 years.

The Niger team performs their 'haka' before a game at the CAR Development Trophy, held in Tsevie, Togo. Image thanks to http://www.freewebs.com/zebus/apps/photos/album?albumid=6757333

Rugby Test Results: 10-11 July

11.07.2009
Half Time Canada 24-0 v USA in Edmonton (WCQ Americas 2, Final)Morocco 29, Kenya 11 in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: Final)
Senegal 11, Cameroun 3 in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: 3rd-4th)
Samoa v PNG-No score at present

10.07.2009
Togo 6, Mali 5 in Tsevie (CAR Dev.Trophy, North: Pool A)

Rugby Test: Kenya and Morocco in CAR Trophy Final

11.07.2009
Kenya v Morocco in Safi (CAR Trophy, North; Final)


Preview
The local Moroccan team was hard pushed to over come a team they would normally dispatch with ease. It's difficult to pin point their present woes but missing out on a World Cup finals place crashed last season has not helped confidence. I expect Kenya, who were also surprisingly eliminated last year, to prevail in a very close game.


Previous Encounters
23.06.2007 Kenya 23-16 in Nairobi (CAR Africa Cup, Div.1, North A)
07.05.2005 Morocco 29-3 in Casablanca (CAR Div.1, Pool C)


GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Kenya 4th, Morocco 8th


Prediction: Kenya by 1 point


Teams

Kenya squad
Dennis Abenga (Nakuru RFC)
Leon Adongo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Patrice Agunda (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Edwin Alubaka (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Andrew Amonde (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Michael Aung (Nondescripts RFC)
Naftali Bondo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Lawrence Buyachi (Nakuru RFC)
Gray Cullen (Nondescripts RFC)
Charles Kanyi (Nondescripts RFC)
Daniel Kiptoo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Wilson Kopondo (Mean Machine RFC)
Vincent Mose (Impala RFC)
Joel Nganga (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Benedict Nyambu (Nondescript RFC)
Peter Kepha Odera (Strathmore University RFC)
Victor Oduor (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Anthony Ogot (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Paul Oimbo (Impala RFC)
Kelvin Omiyo (Nakuru RFC)
Vincent Ongera (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Innocent Simiyu, Capt. (Impala RFC)
Linus Simiyu (Impala RFC)
Gibson Weru (Nakuru RFC)
Head Coach: Michael Otieno

Adapted from http://rugbykenya.blogspot.com/ and thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=45

Morocco squad as yet unavailable.

Test Rugby: Senegal v Cameroun

11.07.2009
Senegal v Cameroun in Safi (CAR Trophy, North; Playoff 3rd-4th)


Preview
These two teams will have to settle for the pickings after their mid-week defeats. Senegal has a slight historical advantage over Cameroun although I'd expect the result to be close. A lot will depend on how many injuries and how well the teams have shaped up after those tough matches mid-week.


Previous Encounters
08.04.2006 Senegal 20-16 in Dakar (CAR Africa Cup, Group C)
26.03.2005 Senegal 6-0 in Duala (WCQ Africa Round 1A, North)


GWC Rugby Rankings: Senegal 11th, Cameroun 12th


Prediction: Senegal by 3 points


Teams

Senegal Squad
Front Row
Mamadou Diallo (Suresnes, France)
Antoine Laporte (Castres, France)
Carlos Mendy (Chateauneuf-Orange, France)
Ousmane Ndiaye (Oyonnax, France)
Ciré Sam (Oyonnax, France)
Mamadou Sy (Grasse, France)

Second Row
Magnamé Koïta (Vienne, France)
Mamadou Koïta (Grenoble, France)
Lamine Ndiaye (Suresnes, France)

Loose Forwards
Abdoulaye Ba (Maisons-Laffite, France)
Aliou Bodiang (Gourdon, France)
Ousmane Mané (Drancy, France)
Preira Charles Ndiaye (Niort, France)
Mouhamed Samba (Brive, France)

Half Backs
Moussa Magassa (Drancy, France)
Demba Kane (Bobigny, France)
Khalifa Niang (Nice, France)
Steeve Sargos (Romans, France)

Three Quarters
Mamadou Diarra (Pau, France)
Ousmane Diarra (Viry-Châtillon, France)
Moussa Koïta-Gros (Saint-Nazaire, France)
José Rui Mendy (Caïmans, Dakar)
Victor-Biram Samb (Léon, France)
Isamsi Touré (Boucau-Tarnos, France).
Entraîneur : Jean Marc Foucras

Adapted from http://www.senegal-rugby.com/L-equipe-n ... _a116.html, and thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=45

Cameroun squad not available as yet.

International Test Rugby This Weekend 11-12 July

11.07.2009
Canada v United States in Edmonton (WCQ Americas R2, Playoff 2nd leg)
Samoa v Papua New Guinea in Apia (WCQ Oceania R2, 1st leg)
Kenya v Morocco in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: Final)
Senegal v Cameroun in Safi (CAR Trophy, North; Playoff 3rd-4th)
Burkino Faso v Nigeria in Tsévié (CAR Dev.Trophy, North, Pool B)
Ghana v Chad in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool B)

12.07.2009
Niger v Mali in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool A)
Togo v Benin in Tsévié (CAR Development Trophy, North, Pool A)

Rugby Test Results 8 July

08.07.2009
Kenya 22, Senegal 7 in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: Semi-final)
Morocco 11, cameroun 0 in Safi (CAR Trophy, North: Semi-Final)

Reviews
Kenya lead Senegal 8-0 at halftime but Senegal scored early in the second half to come to within a point of the East Africans. Kenya then scored two unconverted tries to take this game and set up a final with the hosts Morocco.

Morocco defeated Cameroun 11-0 in a close game.
http://www.lesoleil.sn/article.php3?id_article=48810

Test Rugby: Africa Tournament Begins

This tournament is for the rugby nations who were eliminated in the 2008 Rugby World Cup qualifying matches for Africa. So it would come as suprise for some to read the names of the likes of Morocco and Kenya. In the past those teams have figured prominantly in the World Cup qualifying rounds. But in 2008 they were both quickly eliminated.

This tournament has a rather quick conclusion in its makeup, unlike other African tournaments that are about to kick off elsewhere on the continent. Which is rather a shame as those nations involved only get to play two test matches in 2009.

08.07.2009
Kenya v Senegal in Casablanca (CAR Trophy, North; 1st Semi-final)

Preview
Senegal has selected a very strong France-based squad, unlike previous teams. A Local Senegalese XV defeated Mali 22-3 in a warm up match on 27 June. These two teams have not met before.

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Kenya 4th, Senegal 11th

Prediction: Senegal by 8 points

Teams

Kenya Squad
Dennis Abenga (Nakuru RFC)
Leon Adongo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Patrice Agunda (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Edwin Alubaka (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Andrew Amonde (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Michael Aung (Nondescripts RFC)
Naftali Bondo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Lawrence Buyachi (Nakuru RFC)
Gray Cullen (Nondescripts RFC)
Charles Kanyi (Nondescripts RFC)
Daniel Kiptoo (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Wilson Kopondo (Mean Machine RFC)
Vincent Mose (Impala RFC)
Joel Nganga (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Benedict Nyambu (Nondescript RFC)
Peter Kepha Odera (Strathmore University RFC)
Victor Oduor (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Anthony Ogot (Kenya Commercial Bank RFC)
Paul Oimbo (Impala RFC)
Kelvin Omiyo (Nakuru RFC)
Vincent Ongera (Kenya Harlequin FC)
Innocent Simiyu, Capt. (Impala RFC)
Linus Simiyu (Impala RFC)
Gibson Weru (Nakuru RFC)
Head Coach: Michael Otieno

Adapted from http://rugbykenya.blogspot.com/ and thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=45

Senegal Squad
Front Row
Mamadou Diallo (Suresnes, France)
Antoine Laporte (Castres, France)
Carlos Mendy (Chateauneuf-Orange, France)
Ousmane Ndiaye (Oyonnax, France)
Ciré Sam (Oyonnax, France)
Mamadou Sy (Grasse, France)

Second Row
Magnamé Koïta (Vienne, France)
Mamadou Koïta (Grenoble, France)
Lamine Ndiaye (Suresnes, France)

Loose Forwards
Abdoulaye Ba (Maisons-Laffite, France)
Aliou Bodiang (Gourdon, France)
Ousmane Mané (Drancy, France)
Preira Charles Ndiaye (Niort, France)
Mouhamed Samba (Brive, France)

Half Backs
Moussa Magassa (Drancy, France)
Demba Kane (Bobigny, France)
Khalifa Niang (Nice, France)
Steeve Sargos (Romans, France)

Three Quarters
Mamadou Diarra (Pau, France)
Ousmane Diarra (Viry-Châtillon, France)
Moussa Koïta-Gros (Saint-Nazaire, France)
José Rui Mendy (Caïmans, Dakar)
Victor-Biram Samb (Léon, France)
Isamsi Touré (Boucau-Tarnos, France).

Adapted from http://www.senegal-rugby.com/L-equipe-n ... _a116.html, and thanks to ‘Quentin’ at http://www.fira-aer-rugby.com/forum2007/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=3116&start=45

8.07.2009
Morocco v Cameroun in Casablanca (CAR Trophy, North; 2nd Semi-final)

Preview
Home team Morocco would be favoured to take this game and win the tournament. Most likely the home side will consist mostly of Moroccains from France-based clubs.

Previous Encounters
26.05.2007 Morocco 20-6 in Casablanca (CAR Africa Cup, Div.1, North A)
29.05.2004 Morocco 18-6 in Yaounde (CAR Div.1, Pool A (North)

GWC Rugby Rankings: Africa Table-Morocco 8th, Cameroun 12th

Prediction: Morocco by 28 points.

Teams as yet unavailable