Kenya Simbas set to play last match in SA before jetting back home

The men’s national rugby 15s side, Kenya Simbas, are set to play their last match in South Africa on Saturday 28 May before making their way back home after almost two months away in the land of the Springboks.

Back in early April, the Paul Odera coached side left the country to take part in the Currie Cup First Division to aid the team in its crucial preparations for the African 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers that are set to be held in France from 1-10 July.

Since then, the team has played six matches getting only one win with the other five ending in losses. With the team supposed to play nine matches in the entire competition, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) announced that two of those games will be staged in Nairobi after an agreement was reached to have two teams from the Division come to Kenya.

Consequently, after this weekend’s clash against SWD Eagles, Kenya Simbas will host reigning champions Leopards and Eastern Province Elephants in their two final Currie Cup games scheduled to take place on Saturday 4th and 11th June at the RFUEA Grounds.

“We have the launch of the Carling Currie Cup First Division, Nairobi Series, we will be hosting two matches here in Nairobi on the 4th of June, we play the Leopards on 4th and on the 11th of June we play Eastern Province. Both games will be at the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road,” KRU chairman Oduor Gangla stated.

Nairobi to host two Currie Cup matches

Kenya currently find themselves in the last round of qualifiers for the prestigious 2023 Rugby World tournament set to be held in France. In order to book a historic place, the Simbas need to win the Rugby Africa Cup 2022 that will also be taking place in France in order to book their place as Africa 1.

Simbas will play Uganda Cranes in quarter final four of the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup that serves as the 2023 RWC qualifier. The quarterfinals are a one-off knockout competition and the winner of the tournament books a direct ticket to France in 2023.

The losing finalist will take the grueling route through the Repechage which will be played before the Rugby World Cup kicks off on September 8, 2023.

Kenya Simbas to play fierce neighbours Uganda in Rugby World Cup qualifier

Quarter Final Fixtures

QF 1: Namibia vs Burkina Faso

QF 2: Zimbabwe vs Cote d’Ivoire

QF 3: Senegal vs Algeria

QF 4: Uganda vs Kenya

Currie Cup Results

Falcons 51-14 Simbas

Simbas 21-22 Zimbabwe Goshawks

Griffons 66-33 Simbas

Simbas 35-12 Border Bulldogs

Boland Cavaliers 45-33 Simbas

Simbas vs SWD Eagles 28 May

Simbas vs Leopards 4 June

Simbas vs Eastern Province Elephants 11 June