Kenya Simbas edge South African side Super Barbarians in tight build-up clash

The national men's 15s rugby team, Kenya Simbas, edged Super Barbarians Rugby 27-24 in a thrilling and closely contested build-up match played on Tuesday, 24 June, in Limpopo, South Africa.

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The match was part of the Simbas' ongoing one-month training camp in South Africa, where they are sharpening their claws ahead of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup slated for July in Uganda.

With only one match remaining before the end of their camp, the Simbas were keen to return to winning ways, and they did just that by the narrowest of margins.

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The Kenyans signalled their intent early in the match. In the 10th minute, a well-worked lineout was followed by a series of smooth passes and a clever kick into the opponent’s danger zone.

Timothy Omela chased it down, collected perfectly, and went over the line for the opening try. He stepped up to convert his effort and gave Kenya an early 7-0 lead.

Just five minutes later, another solid lineout platform gave the Simbas momentum. This time, it was Patrick Sabaitia who sliced through the Barbarians' defense to add a second try. Omela could not add the extras, but Kenya were firmly in control at 12-0.

Despite the early pressure, the Super Barbarians began to find their rhythm. Their ball possession and attacking intensity increased, and in the 28th minute, they broke through.

A lineout close to the Kenyan try line resulted in a powerful maul, pushing the hosts over for their first try of the match. The conversion attempt was off, keeping the score at 12-5.

As the half wound down, Kenya responded with another try from a well-executed maul off a lineout, though the conversion again missed the mark.

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At halftime, the Simbas held a 17-5 lead.

The second half turned into a tug-of-war as both sides tightened up defensively. The Barbarians, however, began to capitalise on Simbas' errors.

A costly turnover in the 54th minute deep in Kenya’s territory opened the door for the hosts. Two minutes later, they executed a smooth lineout and passing move that ended with another converted try, narrowing the deficit to 17-12.

But Kenya responded swiftly. Timothy Omela intercepted a Barbarians pass and set up Andycolle Omollo, who charged through defenders to score. Sammy Chao converted, restoring Kenya’s cushion at 24-12.

The Barbarians were far from finished. A collapsed scrum allowed their bulky forwards to crash over the line for another converted try. Suddenly, the game was back in the balance at 24-19.

With just minutes left on the clock, a Kenyan error at the lineout gifted possession back to the hosts. However, the Barbarians infringed shortly after, and Omela stepped up to drill in a crucial three-pointer, extending Kenya’s lead to 27-19.

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Still, the Barbarians had one final push in them. A long pass out wide found their winger, who sprinted in for their final try. The conversion attempt fell short, leaving Kenya with a slender 27-24 victory.

The win was Kenya’s first of the tour and a morale booster ahead of their final build-up match against Limpopo on Thursday, 26 June. Their camp has been a mixture of growth and learning, having started with a 17-17 draw against the SWD Eagles on June 3.

They then suffered back-to-back defeats to South Africa U20, 42-24 on June 9, and a heavy 75-19 loss five days later. The Simbas also faced Sanlam Boland before meeting the Super Barbarians.

With one last friendly to go, the Simbas will be hoping to wrap up their South African tour on a high and carry momentum into the continental championship.