Kenya set to appoint new rugby coach

Nairobi, Aug 29 (IANS): Kenya will name the next head coach of their rugby national team Friday after the country’s union chairman Mwangi Muthee denied news reports that former South Africa boss Paul Treu had been appointed.

A section of local media reported that Treu, who vacated his position as the coach of South Africa after leading them to the quarterfinals of the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Russia, had already been named to replace Englishman Mike Friday who was fired, reports Xinhua.

“These reports are not true. I will offer a comprehensive statement of our new national head coach Friday. For now, we have not formally appointed anyone,” the Kenya Rugby Union boss said here Wednesday.

He, however, declined to confirm or deny reports they had approached Treu, a popular figure in rugby circles who is also coveted by US, Samoa and England.

“We will state our position then (Friday). We have nothing to say about who we are talking to.”

Treu, who coached the South Africans for eight seasons, is the country’s longest serving national coach.