Local Rugby giants Lions de Fer will not take part in the forthcoming 7-aside Rugby tournament slated for Saturday, November 13 at Amahoro Stadium.

Times Sport has established that the club told the tournament organisers that they are not ready for the competition due to players’ fitness concerns.

"They said that their players are not fit,” said Rugby governing body president Tharcisse Kamanda in an interview.

Lion de Fer’s withdrawal from the tournament subsequently saw them replaced by Rubavu Black Eagles.

A total of 14 teams, including eight in men’s category and six in women’s category, are expected to take part in the tournament.

The eight clubs that will participate in the men’s tournament include Kigali Sharks RFC, Rubavu Black Eagles, Thousand Hills RFC, Resilience RFC, Puma RFC, Muhanga Thunders RFC, UR Grizzlies RFC and Burera Tigers RFC.

The men’s competition will consist of two groups of four teams. The winners of each group will play the runners-up of each group in two semi-finals, with the winners progressing to the final where the teams will battle it out to be crowned champions.

Meanwhile six teams also confirmed their participation in the women’s tournament. They include Kigali Sharks RFC, Lion de Fer RFC, Ruhango Women RFC, Muhanga Thunders RFC, Resilience RFC and UR College of Medicine and Health Sciences Rwamagana Campus.

The women’s tournament will be held in a slightly different format with the six teams pooled into two groups.

The third place teams in each group, will then compete in a 5th and 6th place play-off, the two second teams competing for 3rd and 4th respectively, and the table toppers tussling it out in the final to be crowned Champions.