Nairobi to host two Currie Cup matches
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 03.05.22. | 14:08
Simbas will host two South African teams in June as they set up their preparations for the Rugby World Cup qualifiers.
The rugby calendar is set to be spiced up after the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) on Tuesday 3 May announced that two Currie Cup First Division matches are set to be hosted in the country for the first time ever.
The Currie Cup First Division is South Africa's second-tier domestic rugby union competition featuring teams representing either entire provinces or substantial regions within provinces.
#CurrieCupInNairobi
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) May 3, 2022
KRU Chairman Oduor Gangla with representatives from South Africa namely
Yusuf Jackson,SARU Tournament Director
Thando Manana, CEO, Eastern Province Rugby
Eugene Fourie, CEO, Leopards Rugby pic.twitter.com/GxDG2IvPfy
The 2022 edition of the tournament however included the Kenya and Zimbabwe national 15’s teams with one Georgian side, Black Lions.
Kenya Simbas are set to host South African sides reigning champions Leopards and Eastern Province Elephants in Nairobi in their final Currie Cup games on Saturday 4th and 11th June at the RFUEA Grounds.
Paul Odera’s side have been using the competition to step up their preparations for the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers that are slated for 1st-10th July in France.
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Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Chairman Oduor Gangla confirmed the Currie Cup Nairobi Edition at a press conference as he hoped that South African teams would also stage their matches in the capital next year.
“Today we have the launch of the Carling Currie Cup First Division, Nairobi Series, we will be hosting two matches here in Nairobi on the 4th of June, we play the Leopards on 4th and on the 11th of June we play Eastern Province. Both games will be at the RFUEA Grounds along Ngong Road.
It's a unique opportunity for Kenyan fans to come watch the Simbas, before they go out for the qualifiers at the end of June. We are gaining a lot of invaluable experience and this partnership with the South African Union and the Provinces is very important to us and we are hoping that next year we going to see more matches in Nairobi,” said Gangla.
UPDATE | @KenyaSimbas to play two #CurrieCup fixtures at the RFUEA.
— Kenya Rugby (@OfficialKRU) May 3, 2022
They will play Leopards on 4th June before playing the Eastern Province Elephants on 11th June.
Simbas have already played three matches thus far in the competition losing to Valke, Zimbabwe’s Goshawks and Griffons last time out but put in impressive performances in the last two matches.
With the Kakamega 7s slated around the same time, Gangla revealed that the tournament is set to be rescheduled pending discussions with the participating teams.
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