Rugby key moments that defined Kenya Simbas’ tough 2025

It has been a demanding and defining chapter for the Kenya Simbas in 2025.

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It was a year marked by high-performance tours, renewed hope, painful defeats, and a familiar heartbreak on the road to the Rugby World Cup.

While there were positives in preparation, exposure, and sponsorship, the ultimate goal of qualifying for the global showpiece once again slipped through their fingers.

Camp in South Africa

During their preparation for the Rugby Africa Cup-cum World Cup qualifiers, the Simbas spent the entire month of June in South Africa. The country has long served as a breeding ground for Kenyan rugby talent.

The high-performance tour was designed to expose the squad to elite opposition and sharpen them ahead of crucial international assignments.

There, they registered mixed results. They opened with a 17-17 draw against SWD Eagles before suffering two heavy defeats to South Africa U20, losing 42-24 and 75-19, respectively.

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They also battled Sanlam Boland, recorded a morale-boosting win over the Barbarians, and closed the tour with a narrow 42-35 loss to the Limpopo Blue Bulls.

South Africa’s influence on Kenyan rugby was once again evident, with several local stars having passed through elite systems there.

Kabras RFC’s Jackson Siketa, Kisumu’s David Williams, Impala’s Andrew Matoka, and Mwamba’s Dennis Ndayala are among those who benefited from the Rhinos’ high-performance program in Cape Town.

Overseas-based players such as Collins Shikoli and Alvin Marube also trace part of their development to similar setups.

Impact of foreign players

During their camp in South Africa, the Simbas were joined by the South African-based duo of David Bunduki and Thomas Okeyo during the last leg in Limpopo, courtesy of the Blue Bulls. Hillary Mwanjilwa was also working on his return-to-play protocol following a long injury layoff after last year’s international duty.

Rugby World Cup qualification heartbreak

Despite years of steady growth, Kenya remains without a Rugby World Cup appearance. The Simbas have come agonizingly close before, most notably in 2014 and 2022, but history repeated itself in 2025.

In 2022, Kenya fell to Namibia in the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC) final, one step away from qualification. Eight years earlier, Zimbabwe ended their dreams with a 27-10 defeat in the final round of qualifiers for the 2015 World Cup in England.

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With the World Cup expanding from 20 to 24 teams, optimism was high that 2027 could finally be Kenya’s moment.

That hope dimmed after a crushing 29-23 defeat to Zimbabwe in the RAC semi-final at Mandela Stadium in Kampala. The Simbas had started strongly, beating Uganda in the quarterfinals, but once again stumbled when it mattered most.

The setback sent them into the bronze medal playoff, where they suffered a 15-5 loss to Algeria, ending the tournament on a sour note and dealing a major blow to their World Cup ambitions.

Missing regional rivalries

Another notable absence in 2025 was the Elgon Cup and Victoria Cup. The annual regional tournaments featuring Kenya and Uganda were not played, denying the Simbas valuable competitive preparation.

As defending champions of both trophies, Kenya traditionally uses these fixtures to fine-tune combinations and build momentum ahead of major competitions such as the World Cup qualifiers.

With the qualifiers held this year, scheduling pressures likely contributed to their omission.

UAE friendly and home dominance

In May, the Simbas hosted the United Arab Emirates at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi in a crucial build-up fixture ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup.

The friendly, played on Saturday, 24 May, was part of a broader strategy to sharpen the squad before their South Africa tour.

Kenya made a strong statement, brushing aside the UAE 54-24 in a dominant performance. The match also benefited the visitors, who were preparing for the Asian Cup later in the year.

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The top Kenya Cup clubs supply the backbone

Local clubs once again formed the backbone of the national team.

Kenya Cup sides dominated player selection during the World Cup qualifiers, with Kabras RFC leading the way by contributing 13 players (Ephraim Oduor, Edward Mwaura, Eugene Sifuna, Teddy Akala, George Nyambua, Patrick Sabatia, Brian Tanga, Barry Young, Griffin Chao, Walter Okoth, Bryceson Adaka, Jone Kubu, and Derrick Ashihundu).

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Oilers followed with six (Vincent Mwikhali, Hibrahim Ayoo, Elkeans Musonye, Samuel Ovwamu, John Okoth, and Timothy Omela), while KCB Rugby supplied five players (Wilhite Mususi, Andycole Omolo, Emmanuel Silungi, Samuel Asati, and Brian Wahinya) to the Simbas setup.

The trend showed the importance of a strong domestic league in sustaining the national team pipeline.

Kenya Airways sponsorship

Amid the on-field struggles, the Simbas received a timely off-field boost through a Ksh15 million sponsorship deal from national carrier Kenya Airways.

The one-year, in-kind partnership was unveiled at the RFUEA Grounds ahead of the UAE clash and primarily covered travel expenses.

Kenya Airways’ Chief Commercial and Customer Officer Julius Thairu expressed the airline’s excitement at returning to rugby sponsorship, a move that provided critical logistical support during a demanding season.