Sasha Mutai reveals Kenya Simbas’ plans to qualify for 2027 Rugby World Cup
.jpg)
Reading Time: 2min | Sun. 04.05.25. | 07:35
A 47-man Simbas squad was named last month after a four-day residential training camp in Kakamega
Kenya 15s national team, Simbas, are set for an intense training camp in South Africa to prepare for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup (RAC), which will double as a Rugby World Cup qualifier.
The tournament, scheduled for July in Uganda, presents Kenya with a crucial opportunity to secure a direct ticket to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more news
The winner of the RAC will qualify automatically, while the runner-up will enter a pre-repechage playoff.
A 47-man Simbas squad was named last month after a four-day residential training camp in Kakamega.
This marked the beginning of a rigorous build-up for a team that has historically been Africa’s second-best side behind Namibia.
The Simbas reached the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup final but fell to Namibia, who claimed the continent’s sole ticket to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Last year, Kenya finished fourth after a narrow 20-12 defeat to Algeria in the third-place playoff.
With the 2027 Rugby World Cup expanding from 20 to 24 teams, the Simbas have a better shot at securing a coveted spot on the world stage.
Ahead of the crucial matches, Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) boss Sasha Mutai confirmed that the team will be based in South Africa to utilize top-tier facilities and engage in high-quality matches to sharpen their competitiveness ahead of the qualifiers.
“We are only three matches away from the World Cup, and we know how close this is for us. As a union, we will do everything possible to qualify. We are in the process of making plans for a six-week training camp in South Africa, where the players will have access to the best of top performance facilities,” Mutai told Telecomasia.net.
He went on to note that the process will be impossible without financial boost, calling on partners and stakeholders to support them.
“We are speaking with partners to ensure that we make this possible. We want to qualify directly for the World Cup and not go through a repechage,” he offered.
Why South Africa?
South Africa is a familiar breeding ground for Kenyan rugby talent. Several Kenyan players, including Kabras RFC’s Jackson Siketa, Kisumu’s David Williams, Impala’s Andrew Matoka, and Mwamba’s Dennis Ndayala, have passed through the Rhinos’ high-performance camp in Cape Town.
Overseas-based stars such as Collins Shikoli and Alvin Marube also trace their development to similar programs.
.jpg)
