NAIROBI, Aug. 28 (Xinhua) -- United States rugby clubs are interested in signing Kenyan professional players due to their experience and strong physique, America-based Kenyan player Aggrey Omiyo said Friday.

    Omiyo, a flanker who plays for New Mexico Division One League side Aardvarks, said that due to most Kenyan players' physique and body works they tend to last a full game.

    Omiyo, currently in Kenya, urged local rugby players to pursue higher education to enroll in American universities as this could give them the chance to play in the U.S..

    At Aardvarks, there are two other Kenyans - fullback Ceasar Ondula Tim Muraguri. The duo play for Kenya Harlequins and Impala RFC respectively.

    In Kenya, the 26-year-old Omiyo turns out for Nakuru RFC. Urging Kenyans to seize the opportunity to play in the U.S., he said rugby was gaining popularity in America and very soon getting the chance to play for a topnotch club will not be easy.

    "The pay package is not bad. The club also buys each one of us a car," said Omiyo.

    "Rugby is gaining popularity in America at a very fast rate, and stakeholders are investing heavily in the sport, players and coaches," he said.

    Omiyo joined the U.S. paid ranks three years ago and played for Vail RFC in Colorado in 2006 before joining Riverside RFC in California the following year. He landed at Aardvarks this year.

    American rugby club owners are taking keen interest in Kenyan players following Kenya's fairly good show recently, including this year's IRB Sevens World Cup series.

    The Kenyan team featured in the Hong Kong, Dubai, George (SouthAfrica), San Diego (USA) and Scotland legs of this year's IRB Sevens World Cup.

    The Kenyan national sevens team is among the top ten in the world.

    However, American clubs are allowed a maximum of three foreign players per team and this means those keen on catching the eyes of the Americans must be gifted players, said Omiyo.