Nairobi — The national seven-a-side rugby team resumed training at Brookhouse School on Saturday after a 10-day break.

Coach Benjamin Ayimba and his technical bench of Oscar Osir and Felix Ochieng will have a good idea of who is available for the 13th Tusker Safari Sevens tournament which kicks off next Friday at the Rugby Football Union of East Africa ground.

Already, Dennis Mwanja, Peter Ocholla and Innocent Simiyu are unavailable because of injury. Edwin Shimenga is in Canada.

The coach left no doubt that he will call up new players in the larger squad of 24. Meanwhile, Zimbabwe are the top seeds in the schools' category.

Hilary Itela who is co-ordinating entries in this category released the draw. The champions begin their title defence in a tough Pool A which has Western Province, the current powerhouse in schools rugby.

Kakamega High are the national seven-a-side champions while rivals Musingu won the 15's trophy last weekend. The two schools will provide the bulk of players from Western Province.

Last year's runner's up Nairobi will draw the bulk of their players from St. Mary's School who finished third at the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association seven-a-side championship.

The second Nairobi team which has been drawn in Pool A will select players from provincial 15's champions Strathmore School, Lenana and Nairobi School among others.

Central Province which has been drawn in Pool B will draw the bulk of its players from Mang'u, Kiambu High and Alliance High who play in the Coca Cola Prescott Cup.