Kenya Simbas will select the national team for the June 6-20 World Cup qualifiers in Kampala during Saturday’s test match against the United Arab Emirates, head coach Jerome Paarwater has revealed.
Paarwater, who has had 50 players in camp for the last 10 days, will name his final squad of 33 after the UAE encounter.
“Our selection will come down to the match on Saturday. We want to see (if they have grasped) what we have taught them in camp in various facets of play and execution in their core roles. It’s important that the players understand what’s at stake,” added Paarwateer.
The South African said his players are in good physical shape.
Meanwhile, Paarwater hopes to leverage the experience of eight Kenya Sevens players drafted into the squad after competing in the World Sevens Series.
“People forget that likes of Vincent Onyala, Samuel Asati, Jone Kubu and John Okoth played for the Simbas in 2021 and 2022. They have experience playing at the elite 15s level. It’s a matter of adjusting to the environment,” noted Paarwater.
The coach is confident of an improved performance at this Rugby Africa World Cup qualifier after a dismal display in the Africa Cup held in Kampala, Uganda, last year, where they finished fourth.
“We are better prepared. We will go to South Africa for six weeks, to play some of the top clubs and universities and expose our players to top-flight rugby, which will benefit us in the qualifiers,” he added.
After the UAE encounter, the selected 33 will regroup on May 26 for a short pre-departure camp before departing on May 28 for a high-performance training tour of South Africa.
This South African tour will be split into two phases. The first, from May 28 to June 22 in Cape Town, will see the Simbas engage in Saturday fixtures against Currie Cup sides and midweek contact sessions with local clubs and university teams.
The tour is a partnership between the Kenya Rugby Union and Western Province. The team will then move to Nylstroom for the second phase, scheduled for June 22-27, where they will collaborate with the Blue Bulls. It will involve matches against the Bulls’ Currie Cup squads on Tuesday and Thursday.
The Simbas will return to Kenya on June 27 for a brief pre-departure camp on July 1-2 before travelling to Uganda on July 3 for the highly anticipated qualifiers. The teams include Zimbabwe, Algeria, Senegal, Uganda, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and Namibia.
