Kenya Simbas Head Coach Paul Odera has announced his final 28-man squad that will feature in the Rugby Africa Cup scheduled for France from 1 to 10 July 2022.
The competition will also serve as the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
Fijian-born playmaker Jone Kubu is back after returning from Fiji. The Kenya Cup champion and MVP returns to the squad after missing the last two Simbas’ Currie Cup fixtures in Nairobi, and is joined in the backs department by Collins Injera and the experienced Darwin Mukidza who have all made the cut.
Skipper Daniel Sikuta lead the 16-man forward department, that has Martin Owillah, Davis Chenge and George Nyambua among those who have made the cut.
The Simbas will take on the Uganda Cranes on Saturday 2 July at Stade Maurice-David in Aix-en-Provence. Zimbabwe Sables will also face Ivory Coast on 2 July at the same venue.
Burkina Faso, ranked 91st in the World Rugby Men’s Rankings will face Namibia on Friday 1 July 2022 in the first quarterfinal match set for Stade Pierre-Delort in Marseille.
Senegal will face Algeria in the second quarterfinal at the same venue on 1 July.
The victor of the eight-team knockout competition will represent Africa in the RWC 2023 in France 14 months later. New Zealand, hosts France, Italy, and Uruguay are all in Pool A for the Africa 1 qualifier.
Whoever finishes as runners-up following the much-anticipated Rugby Africa Cup 2022 final on 10 July will still have a chance of qualifying for RWC 2023 through the Final Qualification Tournament.
Kenya Simbas squad:
Forwards: Andrew Siminyu, Edward Mwaura, Eugene Sifuna, Teddy Akala, Brian Waraba, Patrick Ouko, Ephraim Oduor, Joseph Odero, Davis Chenge, Brian Juma, Thomas Okeyo, Malcolm Onsando, George Nyambua, Bethwel Anami, Daniel Sikuta, Martin Owilah
Backs: Samuel Asati, Brian Tanga, Jone Kubu, Andrew Matoka, John Okoth, Collins Injera, Vincent Onyala, Bryceson Adaka, Jacob Ojee, Derrick Ashiundu, Dominic Culson, Darwin Mukidza
