Kabras Sugar’s Collins Indeche and Samuel Ovwamu of Menengai Oilers will make their senior international debuts with Kenya Simbas after being named in the 33-man squad that will be heading to South Africa for a one-month high-performance training, ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers in Uganda.

The Simbas played a training match against United Arab Emirates Rugby last weekend at the RFUEA Grounds to conclude the local program, which saw the team also train in Kakamega earlier this month.

The friendly, which was played in three 30-minute blocks, provided the technical bench with a final opportunity to trim the group of 53 to 33 who will be heading to South Africa.

Speaking on the training match and the selection process, Kenya Simbas head coach Jerome Paarwater said they have taken the best to South Africa, where they will be continuing to sharpen the boys before for the qualifiers.

“The training match offered us an opportunity to see the work that we’ve done over the last one week in Kakamega come to life, especially for the players who haven’t been in the Simbas set up for the last two years.

“That is why we played the first two groups made up of majorly these players, we were glad to see a number of them raise their hands with their performances,” he said.

The 33-man squad is a blend of seasoned Simbas players led by captain George Nyambua, as well as exciting new talents in Samuel Ovwamu and Collins Indeche.

Kenya Sevens stars Kevin Wekeksa, John Okoth, Samuel Asati, and Bethwel Anami return to the squad having featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in France .

“It was important for us, to see all 47 players who have been in camp play in a game situation, which is not always possible in a training set up.

“We went through the game as a technical bench, it wasn’t easy, the first two sets had a lot of opportunities, but couldn’t convert them as well as the last set did, some of these things come with experience. We now have four weeks in South Africa to get the team ready for the Rugby Africa Cup,” he added.

On the upcoming Rugby Africa Cup in Uganda, which doubles up as the 2027 Rugby World Cup Qualifier, Jerome said;

“We’ve been following the rest of the teams in the Rugby Africa Cup, but we’ll keep focusing on ourselves, we will be playing some experienced sides from Western Province such as SWD Eagles etc, the Blue Bulls and Sanlam Boland Cavaliers, so by the time we are back, we will be ready for the challenge.”

The 33 will depart for South Africa later in the week,  where they will be joined by South African based duo of David Bunduki and Thomas Okeyo during the last leg in Limpopo courtesy of the Blue Bulls as well Hillary Mwanjilwa who is working on his return to play protocol following a long injury lay off after last year’s International duty.

The Simbas Squad to South Africa;

1. Ephraim Oduor – Kabras Sugar RFC
   2. Edward Mwaura – Kabras Sugar RFC
   3. Eugene Sifuna – Kabras Sugar RFC
   4. Teddy Akala – Kabras Sugar RFC
   5. Griffin Musila – KCB RFC
   6. Wilhite Mususi – KCB RFC
   7 . Vincent Mwikhali –  Menengai Oilers RFC
   8. Melvin Thairu – Gura Humorului Rugby Club
   9. Hibrahim Ayoo – Menengai Oilers RFC
   10. Brian Juma – Kabras Sugar RFC
   11. Andycole Omolo – KCB RFC
   12. Emanuel Silungi – KCB RFC
   13. George Nyambua – Kabras Sugar RFC
   14. Patrick Sabatia – Kabras Sugar RFC
   15. Elvis Olukusi – KCB RFC
   16. Collins Indeche- Kabras Sugar RFC
   17. Bethuel Anami – MLSGP 78
   18. Elkeans Musonye – Menengai Oilers RFC
   19. Obat Kuke – Blak Blad RFC
   20. Samuel Asati – KCB RFC
   21. Samson Onsomu – Menengai Oilers RFC
   22. Brian Tanga – Kabras Sugar RFC
   23. Barry Young – Kabras Sugar RFC
   24. Brian Wahinya – KCB RFC
   25. Griffin Chao – Kabras Sugar RFC
   26. Beldad Ogeta – Menengai Oilers RFC
   27. Walter Okoth – Kabras Sugar RFC
   28. Samuel Ovwamu – Menengai Oilers RFC
   29. Bryceson Adaka – Kabras Sugar RFC
   30. John Okoth – Menengai Oilers RFC
   31. Tyson Juma – KCB RFC
   32. Timothy Omela – Menengai Oilers RFC
   33. Derrick Ashihundu – Kabras Sugar RFC
   34. David Bunduki – Griffons RFC
   35. Thomas Okeyo – Griffons RFC
   36. Hillary Mwanjilwa –  Kabras Sugar RFC