Heartbroken Eric Cantona on bouncing back from Kenya Simbas exclusion
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Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 14.06.25. | 18:02
Cantona had been widely tipped to earn a spot in the team, but when the final list for the Rugby Africa Cup was announced, his name was conspicuously missing.
Kabras RFC utility back Eric Cantona has broken his silence following his exclusion from the national men's rugby 15s team, the Kenya Simbas squad for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup.
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For the talented playmaker, the decision left him heartbroken but also fueled his hunger to grow as a player and bounce back stronger.
Cantona was part of the Simbas’ training camp in Kakamega and impressed in their friendly match against UAE Rugby, where he scored a try to help Kenya secure victory.
He had been widely tipped to earn a spot in the team, but when the final list for the Rugby Africa Cup was announced, his name was conspicuously missing.
“Definitely, I was heartbroken. But I took it in and stayed as positive as I could be. I am grateful for how far I have come and believe that I am just getting started. When the time is right, He will make it happen,” the eloquent full-back told Mozzart Sport.
Cantona's 2024/25 season with Kabras RFC was nothing short of remarkable. He finished the season with 99 points in all 15s competitions, playing a key role in lifting a double of Kenya Cup and Enterprise Cup titles.
His debut for Kabras on Saturday, 13 January 2024, was one for the history books as he scored two tries and slotted in eight conversions, racking up 26 points in a dominant 71-6 win over Homeboyz.
His impact extended to the shorter format as well. Cantona was also instrumental in Kabras' 2024 sevens campaign, helping the Sugarmen win both the Christie 7s and Dala 7s and come in second overall.
He lit up the Christie 7s quarterfinal against Quins with a hat-trick of tries and conversions and made clutch plays against KCB in the semis, including a drop goal and two try-saving tackles.
“Missing out on the squad gave me more to be hungry for. So, I will take the lessons I learned in camp and keep working to better myself. I believe I was doing a lot of things right, and I will just keep building from that,” he offered.
While the Simbas have since headed to South Africa to continue preparations for the July Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda, Cantona has turned his focus back to club duties and the upcoming sevens season.
“At the moment, I’m back in the forest for club duty and heavily focused on the upcoming sevens season. For the 15s season, I’ll go back to the drawing board, look at what worked and what didn’t, and work towards improving in all aspects both as a player and as an individual,” he disclosed.
Though disappointed, Cantona remains grounded and hopeful about what lies ahead.
“I know my time will come. Best believe, I am just getting started,” he concluded.
During the 2024 National 7s Circuit, Kabras RFC once again had to settle for second place for the second consecutive year, despite setting a new club record of 105 points, surpassing the 104 points achieved last season and the 102 points by their 2017 title-winning squad.
They claimed two Cup victories at the Christie 7s in Nairobi and Dala 7s in Kisumu but fell short of the overall title.
