•Wamalwa has had an exceptional season with the Deejays in the National Sevens Circuit and impressed the selectors for the 15s in the four training camps since August
•Odera has retained the majority of the players he worked with during the Currie Cup and the Rugby Africa Cup in France.
Homeboyz star Amon Wamalwa and the United Kingdom-based Joshua Weru have been drafted into the Simbas squad for the Rugby World Cup repechage slated for Dubai next week.
Wamalwa has had an exceptional season with the Deejays in the National Sevens Circuit and impressed the selectors for the 15s in the four training camps since August, according to head coach Paul Odera.
The duo did not play during the Rugby World Cup qualifiers in France in July. Wamalwa has settled nicely into the squad”
“Amon was with us when we were coaching the Under-20s. We have tracked his progress and development over the last two years and we were pleased when his health was restored. He is young and has a lot of potential. He doesn't allow errors to affect how he plays and embraces uncertainty very well,” he said.
Commenting on Weru, Odera said: “Joshua Weru has played rugby since the age of six and he has been exposed to good coaching at every stage of his development.
"A really exciting prospect with very little fear in him and the willingness to work hard.
"His ball-carrying ability and how he conducts himself is that of a much older player. He also has the right subtle skills to make a difference on attack and defense,” he added.
Odera has retained the majority of the players he worked with during the Currie Cup and the Rugby Africa Cup in France.
The team are currently at Pembroke School in Gilgil finalizing their final training camp before departure to Dubai on Monday.
Odera added that the blend of youth and experience will be the key component in getting the Simbas to qualify.
Each group will need to complement the other and right now they are working almost seamlessly with each other.
“This camp will also assist us to tweak a few areas of our play and get our overseas players to train with the team after a number of months away,” said Odera.
The former international thanked the various institutions that have hosted them for the past ten days in their training camps like Hildana Lodge, Waridi Paradise and Pembroke School.
Odera will be without playmakers Jone Kubu due to injury and Sevens star Collins Injera due to work commitments. Dominic Coulson and Andrew Matoka have academic commitments in their respective universities in England and USA. Simbas will face USA, Portugal and Hong Kong during the repechage
Final squad: Patrick Ouko, Edward Mwaura, Andrew Peter, Eugene Sifuna, Brian Waraba, Teddy Akala, Ephraim Oduor, Joseph Odero, Thomas Okeyo, Brian Otieno, Malcolm Onsando, Clinton Odhiambo, George Nyambua, Daniel Sikuta (captain), Martin Owilah, Bethwel Anami, Joshua Weru, Samuel Asati, Brian Tanga, Samson Onsomu, Geoffrey Ominde, Amon Wamalwa, Jacob Ojee, Timothy Omela, John Okoth, Geoffrey Okwach, Peter Kilonzo, Bryceson Adaka, Beldad Ogeta, Darwin Mukidza. Non-traveling reserve: Ian Masheti.