Preview: Kenya Simbas ready to roar in their first 2025 match against UAE
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 24.05.25. | 09:20
The last time the Simbas played in front of a home crowd was during the Elgon Cup on November 9, 2024, when they edged Uganda 27-25 in a thrilling contest
After 189 days of inactivity, the national 15s men's rugby team, Kenya Simbas, will step onto home turf as they host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in a friendly match slated for Saturday, 24 May at the RFUEA Grounds.
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The clash, which kicks off at 3 PM EAT, will serve dual purposes. First, as a long-awaited homecoming fixture for the Simbas, and second, as a final selection test ahead of their intense high-performance tour in South Africa.
The match is also a timely tune-up for the UAE, who are gearing up for the Asian Cup later this year.
The last time the Simbas played in front of a home crowd was during the Elgon Cup on November 9, 2024, when they edged Uganda 27-25 in a thrilling contest.
Now, the Jerome Paarwater-coached side returns to the RFUEA Grounds with heightened ambitions and a deep squad of 50 players currently in camp.
From this group, a final team of 33 will be named after Saturday’s match, regrouping for a brief training stint on Monday, 26, before departing for South Africa two days later.
Among those fighting for a place on the plane is Charles Omondi, who plies his trade with Nondies RFC.
Reflecting on the intensity of the camp, Omondi admitted the step up has been steep but necessary.
“The camp has been a significant step up from what I am used to, so I’d say that it is a bit challenging, but challenging in the right direction.
As Simbas, we have limited time for preparation, and this is the one year we’ve said everything must be compressed to qualify for the World Cup,” Omondi said.
He added that attention to detail is becoming a defining trait of the current squad.
“Our coach is a stickler for detail. This team will ultimately play like a machine, and I trust he will oil this machine where it deserves. We’ll be fine.”
The UAE, led by head coach Jacques Benade, are also approaching the fixture with purpose and gratitude.
“We can’t thank the Kenya Rugby Union enough for hosting us. This is our first time in Kenya, and it’s already a great experience. We need this contact to test our fitness before we head into our qualifiers,” Benade said.
Once in South Africa, the Simbas will engage in a two-phase training and match schedule.
The second leg of the tour will run from Sunday, 22 to Friday, 27 June, in Nylstroom, where the team will train and compete alongside the famed Blue Bulls’ Currie Cup squads, an invaluable opportunity for exposure and sharpening ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup (RAC).
The RAC carries enormous stakes, as the winner secures a direct ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
With the global tournament expanding from 20 to 24 teams, the Simbas’ path to qualification may be slightly more open, but only if they capitalise on every opportunity.
In 2022, Kenya fell at the final hurdle, losing to Namibia in the RAC final. A year later, they finished fourth after a narrow 20-12 defeat to Algeria in the third-place playoff.
Fans eager to rally behind the Simbas can secure their spots with regular tickets priced at Ksh500, while VIP tickets go for Ksh1,000.
