Who is Jerome Paarwater the new Kenya Simbas head coach?

On Thursday 16 March, the Kenya Rugby Union announced the return of Jerome Paarwater as the Kenya Simbas head coach.

Paarwater will be assisted by Curtis Olago of KCB RFC and Carlos Kyatwa of Kabras RFC with Richard Ochieng taking up the strength and conditioning roles. Steve Mankone will serve as the team's physiotherapist going forward.

Paarwater and the new team replaced the Paul Odera-led-bench that led Kenya since 2019 and once again missed qualifying for the World Cup.

Paarwater returns to Kenya Simbas technical bench

WHO IS JEROME PAARWATER?

The name Paarwater is already a hit among rugby faithful. The South African is returning for a second stint, having handled the team between 2013 and 2017.

He remained fans’ favorite after bringing Simbas close to qualifying for the 2015 World Cup where they lost on an inferior aggregate to Namibia despite having beaten the South African country.

He also led Kenya to its highest-ever ranking at position 22 in the World rankings in 2016, as well as winning the Africa Cup trophy in 2013 and claiming the scalps of heavyweights Namibia and Zimbabwe.

PAARWATER’S COACHING EXPERIENCE

In 2007, Paarwater was the Stormers’ forwards coach and he later became head coach of the Western Province team that played in the Vodacom Cup.

For years, he was in charge of the Western Province junior teams (U20 and U21). Western Province is a team that participates in the Currie Cup.

Paarwater also coached Western Province’s loose forwards and was part of the team’s coaching structures since 2003 when he first served as Western Province’s forwards’ coach.

He is broadly known for his strategies and group arrangement.

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WHAT HIS APPOINTMENT MEANS FOR SIMBAS

With a DNA for success, the re-appointment of 57-year-old spells success for the Simbas.

The Simbas lost 36-0 to Namibia during the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup finals played in France, a tournament there the winner was guaranteed a direct ticket to the 2023 World Cup.

They would then drop to the repechage tournament where they had to defeat the USA, Portugal, and Hong Kong in a round-robin format in Dubai. They lost to the USA (68-14), Portugal (85-0), and Hong Kong (42-14).

The tactician has less than a fortnight to select a squad with the Currie Cup opener for the Simbas slated for April 1-8.

The national team will face an uphill task in the three-month competition against South African sides like Leopards, Valke, Boland Cavaliers, Eastern Province, Border Bulldogs and Goshwaks of Zimbabwe.