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Samuel Asati outlines major benefits Kenya Simbas gained from South Africa camp
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Reading Time: 3min | Thu. 03.07.25. | 18:44
The Simbas spent the month of June in South Africa, testing themselves against top-tier sides
Kenya Simbas scrum half Samuel Asati believes the team is entering the Rugby Africa Cup sharper, hungrier, and better prepared than ever before.
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The tournament, which doubles up as the 2027 Rugby World Cup qualifiers, will kick off from Tuesday, 8 to Saturday, 19 July at the Nelson Mandela Stadium in Kampala, Uganda.
For Asati, the journey to this moment has been years in the making.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, the talented number nine noted that the team’s recent high-intensity training camp in South Africa has laid a solid foundation for success.
The Simbas spent the month of June in South Africa, testing themselves against top-tier sides.
They drew 17-17 with SWD Eagles, suffered two losses against South Africa U20 (42-24 and 75-19), battled Sanlam Boland, claimed a win over the Barbarians, and ended the tour with a narrow 42-35 defeat to Limpopo Blue Bulls.
“This has honestly been one of the most productive and intense training camps we’ve had in a long time.
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The structure of playing matches every three to four days pushed us physically and mentally, and it was exactly what we needed.
It mirrors the kind of pressure and scheduling we’ll face in Uganda, so it’s helped us adapt early,” Asati offered.
While the performance in South Africa was far from impressive, the Cardinal Otunga alumni insisted that the biggest gain was in the growth. He believes the camp is what sets them apart from the previous World Cup qualifiers.
“We’ve been able to test our systems under match conditions, which is something you can’t replicate in a regular training session. That kind of preparation is something we lacked back in 2022.
This time, we’ve approached things differently. The frequent matches have sharpened our game awareness and match fitness. I genuinely believe it gives us a real competitive edge heading into the qualifiers,” he continued.
During the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup, he was named Man of the Match in both the quarterfinal against Uganda and the dramatic 36-33 semifinal win over Algeria.
His composure under pressure and tactical awareness were unmatched. He believes that he has grown over the years and is ready for this year’s challenge.
“I’m not the same player I was a few years ago. I’ve grown, not just physically or technically, but in terms of my mindset and understanding of the game.
The last qualifiers taught me a lot about pressure, expectation, and what it takes to compete at the top level,” he offered.
This year’s Rugby Africa Cup is not just another tournament. The winner qualifies directly for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, while the rest will go through the repechage.
With the tournament expanding from 20 to 24 teams, it is a chance to finally break the World Cup qualification jinx.
