The Union, on Friday, announced that New Zealander Paul Feeney, has been appointed with immediate effect, to serve as Technical Director for Kenya Sevens, with an extension to all other senior national teams.
His role, according to KRU, will be to head the Kenya Shujaa Programme and also support the Simbas, Chipu and Lionesses teams in areas of skills and defense.
Speaking at the unveiling event, Kenya Rugby Union chairman Oduor Gangla explained that Paul will also work with Kenya in their quest to qualify for the upcoming Olympic Games.
“He (Paul Feeney) starts immediately with the main focus being the 2020 Olympics Qualifiers but there are plans to work with him up to the 2022 Rugby World Cup,” Oduor said.
On his part, the former Fiji Sevens coach thanked the union for giving him the chance to work for Kenya. “I’m grateful to the Kenya Rugby Union for believing in me and giving me an opportunity to work with not only Shujaa but also Simbas and the Lionesses at large,” he said.
The 56-year old is a World Rugby Level 3 Coach with more than 25 years of coaching experience in both Sevens and Fifteens at the highest levels. He won the 2005 Rugby World Cup 7s with Fiji and has also worked in the All Blacks set up as the New Zealand’s U20’s Position Specific Coach in 2014 and 2015.
He was Head Coach of Auckland ITM Cup for four seasons and won two national sevens championships with them. His last posting was as Assistant Coach of South Africa’s Stormers for the past three seasons.
Notably, the rest of the Shujaa technical team remains intact with Kevin Wambua being the Assistant Coach, Michael Shamia- Strength and Conditioning Coach, Lamech Bogonko the Team Physiotherapist and Eric Ogweno the Team Manager. The fate of Paul Murunga, who has been the Sevens head coach, is however not clear.