Kabras ace Kubu, veterans Injera, Ambaka included as Simbas name squad for Currie Cup, RWC qualification duty

Fijian born magician Jone Kubu has been included in the 60 man member squad that Kenya Simbas head coach Paul Odera has cherry picked to take part in the Currie Cup tournament in South Africa that will be used as an important build up ahead of the crucial 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers that will take place later on in July 2022 in France.

Named as the 2021/2022 Kenya Cup Final Man of the Match and the season’s top try scorer (7), the fly half is included in the squad that also sees veterans of the game Collins Injera, William Ambaka, Oscar Ouma and Daniel Sikuta also get their places in the team as Kenya seeks to earn a maiden appearance at a 15s rugby World Cup tournament.

Menengai Oilers’ Geoffrey Ominde, who also had a phenomenal 2021/2022 campaign with his side that made it to the Kenya Cup final for the very first time in their history, has also been included alongside his team captain Christopher Shitundo and scrum half Samson Onsomu.

Exciting KCB duo of Vincent Onyala and Jacob Ojee have also been named alongside Strathmore Leos’ Andrew Matoka.

Starting from April, Kenya is set to take part in the Carling Currie Cup First Division, - second tier league in South Africa - joining seven local South African teams and two international sides, Georgia and Zimbabwe, for the three-month league.

Carling Currie Cup a good platform to prepare Simbas

Afterwards, the team will shift focus the 8 team Rugby Africa Cup 2022 which will serve as the World Cup qualifiers. In the tournament where the winners book an automatic ticket, Kenya meet fierce rivals Uganda in the quarters with Namibia, Senegal and Zimbabwe meeting Burkina Faso, Algeria and Côte d’Ivoire respectively in the other pairings.

The runner-up will have to make do with a place in the Final Qualification Tournament to make one final attempt to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2023.

Loosehead Props: Ian Njenga (Nondescripts), Andrew Siminyu (University of Johanesburg, South Africa), Edward Mwaura (Menengai Oilers),

Hookers: Eugene Sifuna (Kabras Sugar), Teddy Akala (Kabras Sugar), Coleman Were (Menengai Oilers), Toby Francombe (Boroughmuir, Scotland), Brian Waraba (Kenya Harlequin)

Tighthead Props: Patrick Ouko (KCB), Ephraim Oduor (Kabras Sugar), Joseph Odero (Kabras Sugar)

Locks: Davis Chenge (KCB), Brian Juma (Kabras Sugar), Brian Ndirangu (Menengai Oilers), Thomas Okeyo (University of Johanesburg, South Africa), Manasseh Oduor (KCB), Malcom Onsando ( Sportiv Bucaresti, Romania), Oliver Mang’eni (KCB), Clinton Odhiambo ( Menengai Oilers), Joseph Shem ( Kabras Sugar), Emmanuel Silungi (Yiezreel Rugby Club, Israel)

Blindside Flankers: George Nyambua (Kabras Sugar), Oscar Ouma (Zastava, Russia), Bethuel Anami (Strathmore Leos)

Openside Flankers: Dan Sikuta (Kabras Sugar), Martin Owilah (KCB), Kevin Wekesa (Kabras Sugar), Brian Amaitsa (Nondescripts)

Number Eights: Chrispine Shitundo (Menengai Oilers), Felix Ojoo (KCB), Mark Mutuku (Notre Dame University, USA), Elkeans Musonye (Impala Saracens)

Scrum Halves: Samuel Asati (KCB), Brian Tanga (Kabras Sugar), Michael Wanjala (KCB), Brian Wahinya (KCB), Barry Robinson (Kabras Sugar), Samson Onsomu (Menengai Oilers)

Fly Halves: Jone Kubu (Kabras Sugar), Anthony Omondi (Mwamba), Geoffrey Ominde (Menengai Oilers), Owain Ashley (Cardiff University, Wales)

Left Wings: Andrew Matoka (Strathmore Leos), Timothy Okwemba (Menengai Oilers), Beldad Ogeta (Menengai Oilers)

Inside Centers: Dominic Coulson (Exeter University), John Okoth (Menengai Oilers), Collins Injera (Mwamba), Walter Okoth (Kabras Sugar), Max Omondi (Catholic Monks)

Outside Centers: Vincent Onyala (KCB), Bryceson Adaka (Kabras Sugar), Peter Kilonzo (KCB)

Right Wings: Jacob Ojee (KCB),Derrick Ashiundu (Kabras Sugar), Michael Kimwele (KCB), William Ambaka (Zastava, Russia)

Full Backs: Jeffrey Mutuku (Notre Dame University, USA), Darwin Mukidza (KCB), Isaac Njoroge (KCB)

*Five players are unavailable for the Currie Cup – Toby Francombe (school commitments), Malcolm Onsando (club commitments), Michael Wanjala (work commitments), Barry Robinson (school commitments) and Michael Kimwele (work commitments)

They will link up with the Simbas for the final phase of preparations ahead of the Rugby World Cup qualifiers set for July.