Talented Wamalwa revels in maiden Kenya Simbas callup

Kenya’s fast rising rugby prodigy Amon Wamalwa has expressed his sheer delight after receiving a first time call up to the men’s national rugby 15s side Kenya Simbas who are making their final preparations before taking part in the Repechage tournament set to take place in Dubai from 6-18 November 2022.

The 22 year old was named in Paul Odera’s 38 man training squad after an impressive showing in the 2022 National Sevens Circuit where he was crowned the top points scorer and top try scorer as well as being named in the overall Team of the Circuit.

On the back of the imperious displays, the player who currently plies his trade at Kenya Cup side Homeboyz RFC, landed the deserved call up much to his delight.

“I must admit it was a really good feeling being given the opportunity to join the Kenya Simbas for the first time in my career. I did not see it coming to be honest. Just out of nowhere, I found myself included with the rest of the players who had been called up as well,” the player told Mozzart Sport.

Despite making it to the training squad, Wamalwa, who can play as a fly half, fullback or even slot in on the right wing, knows his work is cut out if he has any chances of making it to the final travelling squad as around ten players will need to be dropped.

“The work starts now for me. I have had an excellent 7s season and now I need to work even harder to book my ticket to Dubai. Of course, the 7s circuit gives me the confidence and my target is just proving that I can do it in the team as well,” the player offered.

The call up will be emotional for Wamalwa who was diagnosed with a heart condition hours before making his debut for the Kenya Under 20 side in the 2021 edition of the Barthes Cup, ensuring that he has never played in any national 15s setup.

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The player has already featured for the senior 7s side Shujaa when he was handed his debut in the Rugby Africa 7s Cup where he scored two of the three tries that booked Kenya’s ticket to the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Kenya will face Hong Kong, the USA and Portugal in a round-robin tournament that will see the team accruing the most competition points after three rounds qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023 and join Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

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Kenya missed out on a direct ticket to the intercontinental showpiece after losing the final of the Africa Cup 36-0 to Namibia who sealed their seventh consecutive appearance at the World Cup.