Injera, Onyala headline players set to miss Simbas’ Repechage journey

Kenya’s rugby legend Collins Injera and one of his touted heir apparent Vincent Onyala will be among the headline names not going to be with the men’s national rugby 15s side Kenya Simbas set to compete at the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament (The Repechage) slated from 6-18 November 2022 in Dubai.

The news comes as a big blow to the Paul Odera coached side as Injera and Onyala were a core part of the team who missed out on direct qualification to the World Cup after finishing second in July’s Rugby Africa Cup following their loss to Namibia in the final.

According to head coach Odera, the experienced Injera, who remains to be Kenya’s record try scorer on the 7s scene with his 279 tries also being second on the all-time list, will miss out on the travelling party due to other commitments while KCB RFC ace Onyala, who was the starting outside centre, elected to switch to Shujaa who are competing in the HSBC Sevens Series.

“We have lost Collins Injera due to other commitments. Vincent Onyala, who was our starting 13, has also chosen to play with the Sevens side who will be in Hong Kong but we will try to fill in the gaps left because we have perfect replacements with Bryceson Adaka and Beldad Ogeta among others,” the coach told Mozzart Sport.

In addition to the two, Simbas were already dealt a blow after Saturday’s in house friendly match after Kabras ace Jone Kubu was ruled out of the tournament after sustaining a left wrist injury.

The development meant that the Simbas would head into the four team Dubai tournament without their first and second choice flyhalves.

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First choice Dominic Coulson, who started all the matches in the Rugby Africa Cup, had already been ruled out of the team due to school commitments in the United Kingdom.

Former Chipu captain Andrew Matoka Matoka will also not travel with the team due to school commitments in the USA.

Odera’s charges are also sweating on the availability of second rower Malcolm Onsando who is yet to be released by his professional club in Romania.

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In Dubai, Kenya are set to face USA, Portugal and Hong Kong in the four-team tournament, and the eventual winner of the tournament will be the final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure where they will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia.