On Friday 10th January 2013
and Saturday the 11th January, the French school Lycee Denis Diderot
and Kibera’s Sadili Oval Rugby Academy came together in a clinic that would
turn out to be not only exciting but also very informative. The clinic which
started at 2pm and ended at 4pm is a series of more to come and was run by
coaches Jerome Alfonsi a sports teacher at Lycee with a passion for junior
rugby, David Orato a core rugby player with Impala Rfc and Muhanji Isiaho current
junior rugby coach Sadili Rugby and a student at the UoN.
Key elements of the clinic sought to
teach players on an often neglected skill of evasive running. With systems
having changed over the years and most players opting for the strength dependent
type of play, coaches at the clinic prepared a different mix of drills to
enlighten players on the need to avoid injury due to contact. It was also
within the drills that players learnt the reason for contact as the final
resort when looking at possibilities of gaining ground.
The ruck is an important feature of
rugby. It sets the platform for a new line of attack and creates time for the
attacking halfbacks to conjure up new ideas for their running teammates. Coach
Jerome worked with the under 15s to ensure the correct body positioning and
ball delivery at the ruck.
French expatriates Les
Gaulois led by Jerome visited the academy on Saturday. They not only trained
amongst themselves but also taught a couple of the beginners how to pass and
catch the ball, which is a very important aspect of the game. Special thanks
are extended to them for having provided the players with lunch.
