Nakuru RFC to host tournament in honour of rugby star Andrew Onyuna
A poster showing a rugby event scheduled to take place at the Nakuru Athletics Club.
Three years after the death of former Nakuru RFC (Wanyore) player Andrew Onyuna, popularly known as Andy, the Wanyore side will honour the fallen player with a tournament dubbed the Andrew Onyuna 7s.
A week before the start of the Kenya 7s circuit, Nakuru RFC head coach Simon Warioki notes that they games would be played to honour Andy's contribution to the club.
Simon Warioki Nakuru RFC head coach.
"Andy is an old Nakuru boy who joined the club in the 90s. I remember him as a great loose forward who wore the number 8 jersey and gave his all for the club. He went from Menengai High School to professional rugby and made it big," says Simon Warioki.
The head coach says Andy has always been interested in youth development and young players developing their talents in rugby, not to mention the fact that he was always a senior when he started playing rugby as a young boy.
He also notes that after Andy left the club to work abroad, he was very supportive of the age-grade teams at Nakuru RFC.
"He would contribute towards food, balls, uniforms among other things for the young boys and girls. Because of what he did for the club as a player and the support he gave, we did not want to have an out of sight out of mind mentality. So we are going to have this tournament every year to honour him," he explained.
Andy Onyuna.
Asked what Andy stood for, Warioki says he was always a champion of fair play, including being direct in his correction of his fellow players.
"He welcomed me with open arms and showed me some things to work on. He was a person I could count on for advice in the ruby fraternity," he recalls.
The tournament will be played at the Nakuru Athletics Club (NAC) on Saturday from 10am.
Teams that have confirmed their participation include: Rugby on the Road, Gilgil RFC, Kiti, Kabarak RFC and Egerton.
Andrew passed away on 12 June 2021 at the age of 43.