Kenya Simbas' road map for 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification
Reading Time: 2min | Thu. 08.05.25. | 16:06
The Simbas’ journey kicks off with a residential camp in Kakamega, set for Sunday, 11 to Sunday, 18 May
Kenya 15s men's rugby national team, Simbas, have rolled out a comprehensive and high-intensity preparation roadmap in pursuit of a historic berth at the expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup.
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The World Cup qualifiers are slated for Kampala, Uganda, from Sunday, 6 to Sunday, 20 July.
The Simbas’ journey kicks off with a residential camp in Kakamega, set for Sunday, 11 to Sunday, 18 May.
Head coach Jerome Paarwater will lead the charge, putting players through a demanding week of training and performance assessments.
The camp will conclude with the selection of a trimmed 33-man squad, the chosen few tasked with carrying the nation's hopes in the qualifiers.
Following a brief break, the final squad will reconvene in Nairobi on Monday, 26 May, for a short pre-departure camp before jetting off for a high-performance tour of South Africa on Wednesday, 28 May.
The intensive tour will be split into two key phases, and is a cornerstone of the Simbas’ preparations.
The first leg of the South African tour will be based in Cape Town, running from Wednesday, 28 May to Sunday, 22 June.
Here, the Simbas will train in partnership with Western Province, taking part in competitive Saturday fixtures against Currie Cup sides and engaging in contact-heavy midweek sessions with top-tier club and university teams.
The goal is to sharpen execution, increase match fitness, and build cohesion against high-calibre opposition.
The squad will then head to Nylstroom for the second phase from Sunday 22 to Friday 27 June, where they will partner with the Blue Bulls franchise.
They will then play two crucial matches against the Blue Bulls’ Currie Cup teams, which will test the Simbas' resilience and adaptability.
They will then return to Kenya on Friday, 27 June, where they will briefly reassemble for final touches in Nairobi on Tuesday, 1 and Wednesday, 2 July before heading to Kampala, Uganda, on Thursday, 3 July for the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) qualifiers.
The winner of the RAC will punch a direct ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, while the runner-up will face an additional hurdle via the pre-repechage playoff.
With the tournament expanding from 20 to 24 teams, the Simbas have a stronger chance of qualifying, but only if they rise to the occasion.
Kenya came agonizingly close in 2022, reaching the RAC final before losing to Namibia. A year later, the team finished fourth after falling 20-12 to Algeria in the third-place playoff.
Now, with an improved structure, a more expansive qualification path, and a focused squad, the Simbas are hoping to finally break through and earn their maiden World Cup appearance.
