Kenya Simbas set for top-tier preps ahead of World Cup qualifiers

The Kenya 15s national team; Simbas are set for an intense training camp in South Africa to prepare for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup (RAC), which will double as a Rugby World Cup qualifier.

The tournament, scheduled for July in Uganda, presents Kenya with a crucial opportunity to secure a direct ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The winner of the RAC will qualify automatically, while the runner-up will enter a pre-repechage playoff.

A 47-man Simbas squad was named last month after a four-day residential training camp in Kakamega.

This marked the beginning of a rigorous build-up for a team that has historically been Africa’s second-best side behind Namibia.

The Simbas reached the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup final but fell to Namibia, who claimed the continent’s sole ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Last year, Kenya finished fourth after a narrow 20-12 defeat to Algeria in the third-place playoff.

With the 2027 Rugby World Cup expanding from 20 to 24 teams, the Simbas have a better shot at securing a coveted spot on the world stage.

In an exclusive interview with Mozzart Sport, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) CEO Thomas Odundo confirmed that the team will be based in South Africa from May to mid-June, utilizing top-tier facilities and engaging in high-quality matches to sharpen their competitiveness ahead of the qualifiers.

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“The Simbas, we have planned for them to have a prolonged camp in South Africa before they go for World Cup qualifiers, so we are trying to look for money for that,” Odundo stated. "We have partnerships in South Africa, particularly with Western Province. We have access to their facilities, technical support, and, more importantly, high-quality games, which are more than what we are used to.”

Why South Africa?

South Africa has long been a training ground for Kenyan rugby players, with many undergoing high-performance programs in the country.

The Rhinos' high-performance camp in Cape Town has hosted several Kenyan talents, including Jackson Siketa of Kabras RFC, David Williams of Kisumu, Andrew Matoka of Impala, and Dennis Ndayala of Mwamba.

Other notable names who have benefited from such programs include Collins Shikoli and Alvin Marube, who are currently based in the USA.