Simbas return to action with home friendly against UAE

Kenya Simbas celebrate winning the Elgon Cup last year (C) Nicholas Bamulanzeki

By Erick Kariuki
Saturday, May 24, 2025

After nearly six months of inactivity, the Kenya Simbas are back in front of their home fans as they take on the United Arab Emirates in a friendly match at the RFUEA Grounds today. The fixture marks the start of a crucial preparation phase ahead of their Rugby Africa World Cup qualifiers in July.

Roughly six months of inactivity, the Kenya’s national 15s men Rugby team, Kenya Simbas are back on the turf in the eyes of the home crowd as they host a friendly match at RFUEA grounds against United Arab Emirates (UAE) today May 24.

The match, set to begin at 3:00 PM EAT, is not only the Simbas’ long-awaited return to home soil but also a final opportunity for players to secure their place in the travelling squad to South Africa. It will be a significant warm-up fixture ahead of the upcoming Rugby Africa World Cup qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda, scheduled for July 6 to 20, 2025.

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The Simbas began their preparations with a 50-man training camp in Kakamega on May 11. Following today’s friendly, the technical bench will finalise a 33-man squad for the South African tour. The trip is a key part of the team’s build-up, providing high-intensity training and match experience against top-tier opposition.

The UAE, who are also preparing for their own Rugby World Cup 2027 qualifying campaign, are in Nairobi for this one-off clash, which presents both teams with a valuable chance to assess their readiness and fine-tune their strategies. The fixture will be played in a slightly different format, consisting of three 30-minute periods, with 10-minute intervals in between to allow coaches room for tactical adjustments and substitutions.

The Kenya Simbas’ starting line-up includes Edward Mwaura, Celestine Mboi, Vincent Mwikali, Brian Juma, Elvis Olukusi, William Mwanji, Kevin Wekesa, Sheldon Kahi, Brian Tanga, Brian Wahinya, Festus Shiasi, John Okoth, Vincent Onyala, Austine Sikutwa and Isaac Njoroge.

The upcoming tour of South Africa is designed to elevate the team's performance and unity. The first phase will be based in Cape Town, where the Simbas will work alongside the Western Province Rugby Union. They will engage in weekend matches against Currie Cup teams and train during the week with leading university and club sides. The second phase will see the team relocate to Nylstroom, where they will link up with the Blue Bulls and participate in midweek matches against their Currie Cup squads.

The team is expected back in Kenya on June 27. After two additional training days on July 1 and 2, the Simbas will travel to Uganda on July 3 for the qualifiers. In Kampala, they will face strong competition from nations such as Zimbabwe, Algeria, Senegal, Uganda, Morocco, Côte d’Ivoire and Namibia. The extensive training tour and carefully planned warm-up fixtures are aimed at ensuring the Simbas are fully prepared for this crucial campaign.