Rugby body to get new home

The Rwanda Rugby Federation (RRF) is in the process of getting a rugby pitch that will comprise of a playing pitch, pavilion and rugby club. According to the newly elected RRF president Alex Araire, the executive committee has considered the ‘Stade Malariya,’ next to Cercle Sportif de Kigali, in Rugunga. “We shall be able to host league games at this pitch and have a rugby club which is a requirement from the International Rugby Board before we are fully recognised by the governing body,” Araire said. Araire explained that he is still negotiating with the City of Kigali authorities who agreed to lease the land to the federation for 20 years but on condition that they fulfil requirements including maintaining the pitch to befit the Kigali city standards and vision. Among these conditions is to maintain the pitch since it is in the green belt of Kigali as well as building a pavilion where spectators can watch games from. “The location of this pitch is very good for us. The pitch is next to sports schools like Lycee de Kigali and Ape Rugunga. It is also close to the Central Business District and most of the players live in nearby suburbs like Gikondo, Nyamirambo and Remera,” Araire noted. According to Araire, Friends of Rwandan Rugby, a UK organisation that has long been a partner of RRF has agreed in principle to provide £25,000 for the refurbishment of the pitch that was formerly used by Rayon Sports for training. The pitch should be ready for use by June 2015.