Nairobi – Paul Treu is to step down as Kenya sevens rugby coach after the Nelson Mandela Bay series in South Africa this weekend, the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) said on Thursday.
The former South African coach Treu, who only signed a three-year contract with Kenya a year ago, brought forward his decision to leave after his team finished bottom of the Dubai HSBC sevens series in the UAE last week.
“I must thank Paul for the professional manner in which he has conveyed his decision (to quit) to me,” KRU chairman Mwangi Muthee said in a statement.
“I admire his bravery of venturing into unfamiliar waters, leaving the comforts of an advanced rugby nation, such as South Africa. A lot of Kenyans respect and salute him for that.”
Treu did not give any reason for his decision to quit, but Muthee accepted there had been sharp differences in the team's coaching staff led by the South African.
Kenya's participation in the HSBC World series has been overshadowed by a player strike over contracts, leading to highly unsatisfactory performances in the 16-team series.
Kenya took just four points from two rounds and the team is ranked 14th overall on the current rankings.– Sapa-AFP