We will treat every game as a final – Simbas captain Sikuta vows ahead of Repechage journey

Daniel Sikuta, captain of the national men’s 15s rugby side Kenya Simbas has declared that the team will focus on treating each game like a final when they play at the 2023 Rugby World Cup Final Qualification Tournament (The Repechage) slated to take place from 6-18 November 2022 in Dubai.

Played over three match days, Kenya will come up against Hong Kong, Portugal and USA in a round-robin format with the team accruing the most competition points in the four team tournament securing the 20th and final spot at France 2023 where they will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji and Georgia.

Having missed out on direct qualification to the tournament after a second place finish in July’s Rugby Africa Cup following their 36-0 defeat to Namibia, the experienced Sikuta backed his side to utilize their second bite of the cherry in an attempt to qualify for a historic first ever Rugby World Cup tournament.

"It is a great honour to be here in Dubai, it is personally my fifth time in the country having been there with the sevens. It is a good feeling and we are very happy to take this opportunity, do our best and try to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.

Everyone in the team is very excited, we lost against Namibia in the Rugby Africa Cup in France and this is our second opportunity to qualify so we will stick to our plan as a team.

We will treat every game as a final but the first challenge is the USA. We need to be a team, in control, and take every opportunity at every minute, every second and see what happens after 80 minutes," the Kabras Sugar captain told World Rugby ahead of the team’s opening match on Sunday.

Kenya will open proceedings in the tournament against the USA at 3.00pm East African Time on Sunday 6 November before playing Portugal at 3.00pm on Saturday 12 November. They will complete their fixtures with a match against Hong Kong at 4.00pm on Friday 18 November 2022.

Kenya Simbas Fixture Schedule

Kenya vs USA – 1500EAT (Sunday 6 November)

Kenya vs Portugal - 1500EAT (Saturday 12 November)

Kenya vs Hong Kong - 1600EAT (Friday 18 November)

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Kenya Simbas Squad to the RWC Repechage

1.Patrick Ouko 2. Edward Mwaura 3. Andrew Peter 4. Eugene Sifuna 5. Brian Waraba 6. Teddy Akala 7. Ephraim Oduor 8. Joseph Odero 9. Thomas Okeyo 10. Brian Otieno 11. Malcolm Onsando 12. Clinton Odhiambo 13. George Nyambua 14. Daniel Sikuta - Captain 15. Martin Owilah 16. Bethwel Anami 17. Joshua Weru* 18. Samuel Asati 19. Brian Tanga 20. Samson Onsomu 21. Geoffrey Ominde 22. Amon Wamalwa* 23. Jacob Ojee 24. Timothy Omela 25. John Okoth 26. Geoffrey Okwach 27. Peter Kilonzo 28. Bryceson Adaka 29. Beldad Ogeta 30. Darwin Mukidza 31. Ian Masheti