Exclusive: Kenya Simbas bolt out of remaining 2023 Currie Cup fixtures owing to financial turmoil

The men’s national rugby 15s side Kenya Simbas will not honour their remaining matches in the 2023 Currie Cup Division One tournament owing to financial difficulties at Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), Mozzart Sport can exclusively reveal.

The Jerome Paarwater currently coached side were set to take on Valke and SWD Eagles in the remaining two matches in the tourney but that will now not go on as planned.

Initially, the national team was to face the two sides at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi but communication posted by Valke announcing that the penultimate clash, scheduled for this Saturday 27 May, would be played in South Africa confirmed the Simbas’ worst fears.

“It is with a heavy heart and deep disappointment, that I have to let you know that our Currie cup journey in 2023 has prematurely ended due to financial constraints among other things, beyond our control as a squad,” Simbas team manager Jimmy Mnene informed the team.

Mozzart Sport can also reveal that the team assembled for the second edition of the Currie Cup Division One tournament have not been paid their allowances for one month despite the committed resolve to fly down to South Africa between April and May.

“I want to thank you for your commitment to participate in the competition despite unpaid allowances for a month and in a foreign territory, even with personal unrelenting responsibilities back home. I will keep chasing for the outstanding allowances and will keep you updated as I also follow up on your welfare through this period,” an empathetic Mnene added.

The newly elected KRU Director in charge of the national 15s squad Engineer Moses Mukabane also confirmed Simbas pulling out from the tournament due to the current factors.

"That is true (Simbas pulling out of the tournament)," he confirmed to Mozzart Sport.

It is important to note the Simbas also missed their opening two matches in the 2023 Currie Cup at the start of April due to similar financial constraints.

In the five games they played from 15 April to 20 May, they managed two wins and lost three.

The news of Simbas’ plight comes just days after the Shujaa’s heart wrenching relegation from the prestigious World Rugby Sevens Series following their 12-7 loss against Canada in the playoff final.

The women’s side Kenya Lionesses also travelled for the 2023 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup without any build up matches in their now vanquished bid to qualify for the World Rugby WXV second tier competition.

Insiders from the KRU put the sad state of affairs solely on former chairman Oduor Gangla.

Simbas Currie Cup First Division Mzansi Challenge Full Fixtures

Simbas v Boland Kavaliers | City Park, Cape Town| 1 April| 4.00pm (Not Played)

Leopards v Simbas | Olen Park, Potchefstroom | 8 April (Not Played)

San Clemente Rhinos 33-22 Simbas | 15 April

Eastern Province 18- 7 Simbas | Adcock Stadium, Gqeberha |29 April

Simbas 30-26 Border Bulldogs | City Park, Cape Town | 6 May

Windhoek Draught Welwitschias 35-28 Simbas | Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek | 13 May

Simbas 48-7 Zimbabwe Goshawks | Nakuru Athletic Club, Nakuru |20 May

Simbas v Valke | RFUEA Ground, Nairobi | 27 May

Simbas v SWD Eagles | RFUEA Ground, Nairobi | 3 June