Simbas raring to roar in South Africa as Currie Cup begins on Saturday

NAIROBI, Kenya, March 29 – The national rugby 15s head coach Jerome Paarwater has released a 33-man squad that will represent the country at this year’s edition of the Currie Cup that kicks off this weekend in South Africa.

The team includes many of the players who shone at the just-concluded Kenya Cup including defending champions Kabras Sugar’s Eugene Sifuna, Teddy Akala, Hillary Odhiambo and Jone Kubu as well as Kenya Commercial Bank’s Samson Asati, Brian Wahinya and Griffin Musila, among others.

The Simbas kick off their Currie Cup campaign against Bolland Kavaliers in Cape Town on Saturday evening before squaring up to Leopards, a weekend later.

It will be the first time in action for the national team since November last year when they bowed out of contention for the 2023 World Cup on a whimper.

Kenya lost all its World Cup Repechage campaign matches, going down 68-14 to the United States, 85-0 to Portugal and 22-18 to Hong Kong to kiss their dreams goodbye.

In the aftermath of the debacle, coach Paul Odera threw in the towel as the team returned to the country amidst grievances that the players had not been remunerated for a long time.

During a recent training session, Paarwater was under no illusion regarding the huge weight of expectations on his shoulders, adding that it would take some time before the fruits of the hard work are seen.

“This is a four-year plan…we have to start from scratch. The previous coaches did their best under the circumstances. They didn’t do too bad but unfortunately if you want to qualify for the World Cup there has to be a lot in terms of preparations. You have to prepare yourself against the best,” the South African said.

He exalted the Currie Cup as just what the doctor ordered for the team in terms of the heights they are trying to scale.

“It is important for these guys to compete in the First Division Currie Cup because obviously to test themselves against the best teams in South Africa. There are enough rugby guys…who are well conditioned and so it is up to us the coaches to bring them to the right technical standard,” Paarwater said.

Apart from playing down south, Simba will also play three of their matches on home soil, including against Zimbabwe Goshawks (May 20), Valke (May 27) and SWD Eagles (June 3).