Kenya to introduce stringent medical rules in rugby amid fatalities on pitch

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) officials said on Tuesday they will introduce new medical rules to protect player safety following the death of two national team members who died in a spate of one week.

Kenya Rugby Union Secretary, Oduor Gangla told journalists in Nairobi that the game has experienced challenges in the last two weeks with the loss of the two rugby players.

"This is a painful period for Kenyan rugby. We will meet with club officials to formulate ways and means of ensuring that players' well-being remains paramount by introducing new medical guidelines to avert tragedies," Gangla said.

The rugby fraternity has been in a state of mourning following the death of Mwamba Rugby Football Club dependable player, Victor Wayodi, who collapsed and died during a match against Nakuru RFC on the same day Nondescript RFC buried Ogeto Gecheo who died the previous weekend.

In a strange turn of fate, the players who attended the same learning institution, Maseno School, died a few days apart, which led to the union to suspend the Kenya Cup matches until the association could get to the bottom of the matter.

Gecheo has suffered a spinal injury during their Kenya Cup match tie against Strathmore University Leos a week earlier and underwent successful surgery and even regained control of the limbs, but developed breathing problems and was pronounced dead on Dec.6.

The secretary said clubs will have to abide by the projected medical protocols before they can be allowed to participate in the game, by adhering to new standards that include conditional ambulances and medical personnel on standby during matches.

"We will also be strict about testing players about their cardiac conditions and other ailments so that any medical abnormality can be treated promptly," Gangla said. Endit