The George Mwangi Kabeberi Sevens will mark another important milestone in the development of rugby officiating in Kenya, with guest Match Officials from Rugby Africa joining their Kenyan counterparts for this year’s tournament.
The visiting officials are part of a development initiative led by AJ Jacobs, the South African referee and current HSBC Sevens Match Official, who has been in Kenya conducting a series of training and development programmes for Match Officials.
As part of the programme, five Rugby Africa women Match Officials have joined the country not only for training but also to gain valuable game-time exposure as they officiate at the Kabeberi Sevens.
The tournament will also provide an important opportunity for the Kenya Rugby Referees' Women’s Panel to showcase its growing talent. For the first time, an all-female Match Official complement will officiate at Division Two, bringing together the visiting Rugby Africa women officials and members of the KRRA Women’s Panel.
For referees Association, this represents a significant milestone in the development of the women’s officiating pathway. The Women’s Panel has continued to grow steadily, with more officials being identified, developed and given opportunities through the referee development pathway.
The Kabeberi Sevens will therefore provide a unique platform for our women Match Officials to share the field, exchange experiences and learn alongside officials operating at Rugby Africa level.
More importantly, it demonstrates the progress being made in creating meaningful opportunities for women in rugby officiating and strengthening the pathway towards higher levels of the game.
The Association is confident that this collaboration will benefit both the visiting Rugby Africa officials and our own Match Officials, while contributing to the continued growth and professionalisation of rugby officiating in Kenya.
