Club Afrique head coach Patrick Ross-Allen has explained why he believes Kenya can narrow the gap with South Africa’s rugby standards.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsRoss-Allen, who also serves as Club Afrique’s Director of Rugby, noted that Kenya can achieve that by investing more heavily in junior development while also strengthening the structures supporting players, coaches and officials.The tactician was speaking after Club Afrique’s campaign at the 60th Christie 7s at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi, where the South African side finished sixth in a competitive field featuring some of Kenya’s top clubs.Millions Kenya Sevens players were to earn from Ultimate 7sThe coach, however, believes Kenya has the raw talent and physical qualities needed to compete at a higher level.“It is always difficult, and it depends on what their goals are at the end of the day. If they want to be better in 15s or 7s, it also depends on what is given to the players, coaches and staff, as well as officiating and other aspects,” Ross-Allen said.“There is a lot that can be done. The main thing is making the junior ranks stronger,” he continued.##NAJAVA_MECA_9961658##His comments come at a time when South African rugby is enjoying success across multiple levels of the game.The Junior Springboks won the World Rugby U20 Championship for a second consecutive year after beating France 16-5 in the final in Tbilisi, Georgia, in July. Earlier in the year, they also won the U20 Rugby Championship for the first time.At senior level, the Springboks defeated New Zealand 3-1 in the 2026 ‘Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry’ series, while the Springbok Women retained the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup after beating Kenya 35-20 in Nairobi to claim their fifth consecutive continental title.Former Kenya Sevens ace appeals for financial help after being rescued from street lifeRoss-Allen believes the foundation of that success can be traced to the development of young players and the systems around them.While Kenya continues to produce talented players, he feels greater investment in the pathway from junior rugby to the senior game would help unlock that potential.“I must say the Kenyan boys are very tough. It was not easy to come and play here if you are not used to this weather. I think the Kenyan boys have something special. ##NAJAVA_MECA_9962435##They are very strong, they have worked hard, and that is why I always say Kenya are very dangerous in rugby,” he said.The coach also believes greater exposure to quality competition could benefit Kenyan players.“If we can do this more and more, you never know; anything is possible,” he added.Brian Tanga reveals next move after calling time on glittering 12-year 7s careerClub Afrique provided a glimpse of the competitiveness of South African rugby at the Christie 7s, opening their Pool A campaign with a 26-19 victory over hosts Kenya Harlequin, with Adams Elton scoring a hat-trick.They were then beaten 40-5 by eventual overall circuit winners KCB Rugby before recovering to defeat MMUST 24-19 and secure their place in the Main Cup quarter-finals.Their run ended in the last eight after a 24-12 defeat to Kabras RFC. They subsequently lost 24-19 to Daystar Falcons in the fifth-place playoff to finish sixth overall.##NAJAVA_MECA_9962023##Despite failing to challenge for the title, Ross-Allen was encouraged by the improvement he saw from his players as the tournament progressed.“I think for us, on the second day, the rugby was at least better. We played as a team a little bit more, sticking to the structure. Unfortunately, we did not get what we wanted, but to be honest, I am proud of these boys.Obviously, when we go to a tournament, we aim to win. But there are better players and better teams here in Kenya, and I look forward to seeing what we can do going forward,” he said.How Kenya Harlequin rebuilt and rose again after 30-player exodusClub Afrique brought together players from different parts of South Africa, with Ross-Allen praising the professionalism of the squad despite the limited preparation time before travelling to Kenya.“They are all superstars in their own right. They have the professionalism to work together as a team. Once we got together at the airport, we had boys from Cape Town and Johannesburg. We arrived on Wednesday night, and by Thursday, it felt like we had been together for years. That goes to show how professional these boys are,” he averred.Beyond the rugby, Ross-Allen was impressed by his reception in Kenya, singling out the warmth of the people during his stay.“The friendliness of the people. They are very friendly, and if you ask for something, they jump right in to help. That is amazing,” he concluded.
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