Three senior Silverback players will feature in the GFI East African franchise team during this year’s GFI Hong Kong 10s from March 25-26. The team leaves today. 

The experienced trio include fullback Vincent Kamali, prop Olivier Nikwijize and lock Benjamin Akami Makombe.

They will play alongside six Ugandan players and four Kenyan players in the franchise team that was put together by former volunteer worker in Rwanda and rugby enthusiast Dave Hughes.

Hughes organised the first tour for the Silverbacks to the Hong Kong tournament back in 2010 and has continued to be involved.

Speaking to Sunday Sport on Friday, Kamali said, "When you are picked to play alongside the best players (in the region) you have to work hard. It won’t be a huge challenge play alongside the Ugandans as we have met before but as for the Kenyans, we have to use the training sessions to know each other.”

The trio will hook up with their Ugandan players at Entebbe Airport. Among the Ugandans are; Ivan Makmot and Allan Otim Amin, who played for the Silverbacks in the 2010 edition. The Kenyan players will fly straight Hong Kong.

The GFI East African team will face off against The BGC Dragons, Allied World Forces Exiles and the Vikings in pool A.