SHUJAA AND LIONESSES IN MIRAMAS, FOCUSED ON OLYMPIC AND HSBC SUCCESS

The Kenyan national men’s and women’s rugby teams, Shujaa and Lionesses, have officially checked
into their pre-Olympics camp in the city of Miramas, France.
Shujaa, after their impressive qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games against former African
champions South Africa, have been diligently concentrating on reclaiming their core status in the HSBC
World Rugby Series. This series not only acts as a crucial stepping stone for their Olympic preparations,
now just 64 days away but also serves as a platform to fine-tune their skills and strategies. Their recent
performance in Munich, Germany, where they secured a commendable 5th place, showcases their
determination and readiness as they strive to solidify their position among the elite teams in the rugby
world.
The Kenya Lionesses, determined and hungry for their third consecutive appearance on the world’s
biggest stage, are eyeing the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. After narrowly missing the sole African ticket to
the Lady Boks, the Lionesses have one last chance to secure their spot in Paris.

On Thursday, 23 May, 2024 the Kenyan squads had the honor of welcoming the
Mayor of Miramas, Frédéric Vigouroux, who visited the camp to show his support and solidarity with the
teams. Vigouroux underscored the significance of this preparation phase and the
warm support from the local community. His visit is a testament to the strong cultural and sporting ties
between Kenya and France, and it highlights the city’s commitment to supporting international sports.
The national teams will train in Miramas for two weeks before returning to Nairobi for a week and flying back to
Miramas to train for one more week before heading to Monaco on 21-23 June 2024. A venue that has
hosted final qualification events before the Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.
Lionesses play in Pool A in the qualifiers against Argentina, Papua New Guinea, and Samoa, while in the
playoffs Shujaa are drawn in Pool B against host Spain, Samoa, and Chile.
During their training period in Miramas, both teams will engage in test matches with various French
rugby teams. “We are delighted to be in camp here in Miramas, as opposed to going back home and then returning
later for the challenger series,” said Co-Captain Tony Omondi. “This setup allows us to stay focused and
train in conditions akin to those we will face in the competitions.”