Former Kenyan international Patrice Agunda to shadow Japan Rugby through coaching exchange
31st May 2024
Japan is currently coached by former England and Australia coach Eddie Jones.
- The trip is organized through a partnership between DBA Africa and Wazi Wazi, a Japanese corporation supporting Kenyan sporting talents.
- Through this exchange, Patrice will be involved with both the Japanese national team's training camp and the under-20 camp.
- Patrice, a decorated player in both the Kenyan sevens and 15s teams, is currently part of the coaching staff at Kenya Harlequins and the DBA Rugby Academy at Kenton College.
Patrice Agunda, a former Kenyan
international player, will embark on a one-month coaching exchange program in
Japan.
During this period, he will have the
opportunity to work alongside renowned coach Eddie Jones and the newly
appointed team manager, Toshiaki Hirose, with the Japanese national rugby team.
This trip, organized through a partnership
between DBA Africa and Wazi Wazi, a Japanese corporation supporting Kenyan
sporting talents, aims to upskill Kenya's rugby coaching knowledge.
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It is a life-changing program with an
ambitious goal of elevating the coaching expertise not just at the DBA rugby
academy but in the country.
Last year, during a visit to the DBA
Academy, Hirose, a former Japanese national team captain, highlighted the
similarities between Japan's rugby journey a few years ago and Kenya's current
position.
Japan has remarkably risen through the
ranks of world rugby to become one of the top 10 nations, a feat that Kenyan
rugby enthusiasts aspire to achieve.
Through this exchange, Patrice will be
involved with both the Japanese national team's training camp and the under-20
camp.
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playoffs
Additionally, he will have the privilege of
being on the sidelines for Japan's matches against the New Zealand Maori and
England. Notably, the Japan versus England match will be the first time the two
sides have met on Japanese soil.
Patrice, a decorated player in both the
Kenyan sevens and 15s teams, is currently part of the coaching staff at Kenya
Harlequins and the DBA Rugby Academy at Kenton College.
The knowledge and experience he will gain
from this exchange will undoubtedly open doors for him to pursue bigger
coaching opportunities, both in Kenya and abroad.
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Head of the DBA Academy, and Kenyan U20s
assistant coach, Kenny Andola, speaking on behalf of DBA Africa, expressed
excitement about the opportunity presented to Patrice and DBA through this
partnership with Wazi-Wazi and their Japanese connections.
"Giving Patrice exposure to a top
international coaching set-up is a dream come true for him, and I know the
knowledge and experience he will gain will be a huge benefit to us at DBA, our
coaches, athletes and Kenyan rugby as a whole," he said.
Patrice will depart for Japan on Friday, May 31, and return at the end of June. The DBA Academy hosts its sessions every Sunday at Kenton College in Kileleshwa starting at 10 am.