The national senior women’s sevens rugby team, Kenya Lionesses, have received a major boost after the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) announced plans to provide the players with comprehensive medical insurance.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe development is expected to address a longstanding welfare concern for the team, which, despite its impressive performances on the local and international stages, has been representing the country without medical insurance.Speaking on Monday morning, KRU Chairperson Harriet Okach reaffirmed her commitment to improving the welfare of women rugby players, revealing that securing comprehensive medical cover for the Lionesses is among her key priorities.Dakar Olympics: Rising Lionesses off to flying start in SenegalOkach said she would want to be held accountable for ensuring that the players have adequate medical protection following the upcoming Africa Women’s 7s, scheduled for Saturday, 7, and Sunday, 8 November at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.“It's not something that came up after this tournament; I have believed in it since I came into office. We want to grow women's rugby and promote equality, not just in terms of opportunities and pay, but also through safeguarding measures that give the players peace of mind,” Okach said.She emphasised that players should be able to concentrate on their performances without worrying about the financial implications of injuries sustained while representing the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_10088120##“We want the players to have the assurance that when they take to the field, should anything happen, their medical needs will be taken care of. They should not have to worry about that. This is something I am committed to, and we are working towards it,” she added.The proposed medical cover forms part of KRU’s broader commitment to bridging the welfare gap between the men's and women's national teams.According to Okach, the union has been working towards ensuring that the Lionesses enjoy similar benefits to their male counterparts, particularly in areas such as preparation, contracts and remuneration.Injera hilariously revisits unfulfilled Prado promise after historic Singapore 7s triumph“As a union, we have tried as much as possible to ensure that what the men's team receives is also extended to the women's team. We have worked towards equality in preparation, contracts and remuneration.Going forward, the Lionesses will also have comprehensive medical insurance, which will give them peace of mind when they are playing, knowing that their health is covered, while also ensuring they have money in their pockets,” she explained.Beyond insurance, the KRU chairperson also highlighted improvements in the team's preparation, confirming that the union had organised non-residential training camps ahead of the Africa Women’s 7s.##NAJAVA_MECA_10088119##She acknowledged the government's significant support and investment in helping the union prepare the team for international competition.“We have also been able to organise non-residential training camps, with significant support and investment from the government to help the Kenya Rugby Union prepare the team to compete,” she said.The announcement comes as the Lionesses continue to build on their growing stature in African women's rugby. They currently sit second on the rankings behind South Africa.Former Kenya International on why Shujaa performs better than Kenya Simbas
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