This week the IRB entrusted Kenya with the job of hosting the second IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, in April 2009, and Total Rugby spoke with the union's Chairman Richard Omwela to get reaction.

The awarding of international rugby's second tier Under 20 tournament to Kenya is a clear indication of the IRB's wish to take the game beyond its traditional markets.

Securing the tournament is also a major boost to the ongoing development of the game in Kenya, and in Africa as a whole.

"It's just sinking in - we are really delighted to have an opportunity of this nature and I'm answering a lot of congratulatory phone messages at the moment, but they're all welcome," said Kenya's Rugby President Richard Omwela speaking with Total Rugby. "We want to leave nothing to chance now and show that we deserve to have it."

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In the past, national rugby unions have used the hosting of IRB Age Grade tournaments as a launch pad for enhancing their facilities, undergoing one-off construction work, but Omwela feels that in Kenya's case it is more likely that the event will help foster closer working relationships with other sports.

"I don't think we will develop any new facilities between now and next April, from a financial and logistical perspective it's not feasible," he said. "What we want to do is leverage on what we already have and see if we can identify other facilities that are not ordinarily rugby-orientated and see whether we can use those. For example in the past we've taken on, used and expanded the national soccer stadium."

Kenya made the international news earlier in the year as a result of the violence that followed the Presidential results last December. Omwela is now keen to put minds at rest regarding security.

"Thank God those problems are behind us, we're happy to report that things are normal," he said.

"The security situation is in very good shape and we want to assure the world, and particularly the teams coming to Nairobi, that security is not a key issue, even though it will obviously be top of the agenda when it comes to making people feel secure when they are here. We do also expect the Government to come behind us fully on that."

Fastest-growing sport in Kenya

Kenya's rugby boss is optimistic about the future. With soccer's fortunes flagging in the country rugby is currently the fastest-growing sport, particularly amongst school children, and hosting this tournament can only further boost that status quo.

"The kids are opting to play what they see as a well-organised and entertaining sport and they are coming to rugby as that alternative," said Omwela.

"And the game is not only played in Nairobi, it's just as strong in the provinces. There's so much talent in this country, we hope that this will be an opportunity to show that there is more to the sport in Africa than there is elsewhere."

Until now Kenya's splash on the world rugby calendar has been confined to the Sevens game. The annual Safari Sevens welcomes large numbers of high profile teams and as a result Sevens has blossomed. The country's national side finished a very creditable seventh in last year's IRB Sevens World Series standings, ahead of Australia, Scotland, Wales and France. However, it's a mark of the expectations that people have that they are still not happy.

"Our Sevens team has performed very well, although I can tell you the entire nation believes they could do better. You just wonder, 'what more do you want from us?' We've beaten England, beaten Australia, the only three countries we haven't beaten on the Series are New Zealand, South Africa and Fiji but the players are heroes. We hope that they can continue to replicate what they've done."

And perhaps replicate Sevens' success on the fifteen-a-side pitch in the years to come.