Simon Muniafu and Neville Omondi left the country on Tuesday night aboard a British Airways flight for a three week pre-season camp with Saracens that runs from 11th to 30th August 2015. While in London, Simon and Neville will complete a pre-season program with the Saracens Senior and Academy Teams giving them unique exposure to an elite level of training with the possibility of securing a place in the Saracens Academy.
Simon Muniafu breaking through the Ugandan U19 defence in 2014. Image courtsey: Ministry Of Rugby
The two are in London courtesy of a broad partnership framework that was signed in 2013 between Impala Rugby and Saracens (a top professional rugby club in Europe – www.saracens.com). Under the framework, Impala Rugby joined the Saracens Global Club Network comprising ten clubs in the UK, USA, Brazil, Malaysia, China, Abu Dhabi, Tonga, Russia, Georgia and Kenya. As a member of the network, Impala Rugby enjoys a huge mix of technical and commercial partnerships sourced through the network including a pathway for players to play professional rugby, sharing of technical resources and joint procurement.
Simon has played for Impala Saracens Rugby since 2014, representing the Club both at age grade and senior rugby levels. The son of legendary Kenya Rugby Great Dr. Max Muniafu, Simon was selected to the Kenya U19 Squad in 2014 making his debut to International Rugby in the Kenya “A” vs Uganda game. Neville on the other hand joined Impala Saracens in 2015 having been identified under the Impala Saracens Elite Player Development Pathway Program while still in Maseno School and has been sharpening his skills in the Impala Saracens Academy.
This will be the second pair traveling to Saracens for the camp. In 2014, Sammy Oliech and Ian Minjire had an opportunity to attend the player pathway program and their performance this season in the league and Kenya XVs is a reflection of the invaluable experience gained at the camp.
