Kenya national rugby union team

Kenya

Nickname(s)	Simbas
Emblem	African lion
Union	Kenya Rugby Union
Head coach	Jerome Paarwater
Captain	Brian Nyikuli
Most caps	Joel Nganga (52)
Top try scorer	Innocent Simiyu (12)
Home stadium	RFUEA Ground
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	22 (as of 29 August 2016)
Highest	22 (2016)
Lowest	51 (2003, 2004)
First international
Kenya Kenya won Tanganyika[1][lower-alpha 1] (1954)
Biggest win
Kenya 96–3 Nigeria (10 August 1987)
Biggest defeat
Namibia 84–12 Kenya (27 May 2006)
World Cup
Appearances	0
Website	www.kru.co.ke

The Kenya national rugby union team represents Kenya in rugby union. The team is also known as the Simbas, which is the Swahili word for lion.

Kenya competes in the Africa Cup and is ranked twenty-second in the World Rugby Rankings as of August 2016.^[2] Kenya has never qualified for the Rugby World Cup.^[3]

Their home ground is the RFUEA Ground which opened to an East Africa side against the British and Irish Lions in 1955. The national team is managed by the Kenya Rugby Union.

History

Early history (1909–1960s)

Rugby Union was introduced to Kenya at the beginning of the 20th century by British settlers and the first recorded match was in 1909. The game was initially restricted to whites only.

In 1923, the primary club in Kenya, Nairobi District, was split into Nondescripts RFC and Harlequins, due to the club's overwhelming strength. In the 1950s the first internationals began taking place.^[4] Early competitions included the Nairobi District Championships first held in 1925, a Royal Armed Forces tournament first held in 1937 and the Enterprise Cup which has been in existence since 1930.

Kenya played host to touring sides between the 1920s and the 1950s; notably including University of Cape Town, Stellenbosch University and a Combined Universities (Oxford and Cambridge) team at Mitchell Park Stadium in 1951.

By 1953, the Rugby Football Union of East Africa was formed to oversee rugby in the three East African colonies of Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika. A Kenya Colony team played a Tanganyika team for the first time in 1954 and a Uganda Protectorate team in 1958 with the Kenyan representative side winning 21-11. Often, the Kenyan side was combined with other East African nations, and composed of players of European ethnicity. While the results were often lopsided, these games provided a huge amount of revenue for rugby in Kenya, and were incredibly beneficial. Kenya, as an independent side, played its first game against Tanganyika, proving to be victorious.

Independence and integration (1970s–1980s)

Post-independence, the desegregation of the Kenyan school system meant that indigenous black Africans' featured in the rugby sides of elite schools such as Duke of York and Prince of Wales. Players such as Chris Onsotti, John Gichinga, Dennis Awori, George Kariuki and Jim Owino would form the first generation of indigenous black African rugby players.

In 1972, Ted Kabetu became the first indigenous black Kenyan to play for the East Africa Tuskers in a match against Richmond RFC. That same year, the Tuskers played a tour against Ireland, achieving moderate success and winning 3 out of their 8 tests; Chris Onsotti became the first forward black Tusker playing at prop on the Fourth Tuskers Tour of Ireland in 1972; and Jackson "Jacko" Omaido a school boy at Lenana School (formerly Duke of York) represented the Tuskers playing at fly-half at a 1975 tour of Zambia.

An influx of players from Tanganyika due to a flight of expatriates would boost the Kenyan game. During the early 1970s, a number of English clubs began touring Kenya, playing unofficial test matches against the Tuskers. This included Harlequins RFC nearly being beaten, only for the Tuskers to lose 20-15.

After an invitation in the local dailies to black African rugby players, Miro RFC was formed as an invitational side; rather like the Barbarians or local equivalents, Scorpions RFC. Miro were an all black African side and included two white players (Doug Hamilton and Pat Orr); considered to have played an important role in bringing black Africans into rugby in Kenya. The team played Rugby Roma Olimpic in 1976, winning 20-12. However, the side was disbanded over questions of the racial selection of players.

The Tuskers, by the mid 1970s being fully integrated with both black and whites, faced Zambia, winning 4 tests out of 5. Around this time, some clubs began folding due to the flight of white expatriate players. Despite the growth, conflicts emerged between the black Kenyan players and the many clubs which were still run by expatriates; Miro RFC played again in 1979, this time recording triumph against Blackheath F.C. 32-19, providing major hope for black African rugby.

Mean Machine RFC and Mwamba RFC both founded in 1977 as indigenous African rugby sides. Mean Machine, a representative side of the University of Nairobi featuring Absalom "Bimbo" Mutere, Tom Oketch and football international Joe "JJ" Masiga were notable for winning the Kenya Cup on their first attempt. Black Blad RFC representing Kenyatta University College would follow thereafter. Mean Machine were however disbanded as a result of the closure of Nairobi University after the failed coup of 1982.

Miro RFC continued to play, but lost to the Metropolitan Police club of London 40-9, a side that was described as "makeshift". Around this time, the Tuskers played their last tour in 1982, defeating Zimbabwe and Zambia. The 1980s also saw the introduction of the sevens game. However, the 1980s also saw a decline in the national side; for example, during a qualifier play-off against Zimbabwe, Kenya lost all three of their matches; by the end of the 1980s, Kenya lost to Zimbabwe 56-9.

Mixed fortunes (1990s–present)

The Simba XV logo

Kenya had firmly established stability in its domestic scene, with the game being picked up by the natives, and a league being established. During the 2000s Kenya began to start experiencing success again at the international level, finally being able to consistently record victories against sides such as Zimbabwe and Uganda.

For the 2007 Rugby World Cup qualifiers, the team defeated both Tunisia and Namibia at home, only to lose their away legs.

The team again failed to qualify for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, losing to Tunisia. In 2011, Kenya won the Africa Cup, beating Tunisia in the final 16-7 after both Morocco and Namibia withdrew due to financial constraints; the following season saw Kenya regress and struggle against Uganda and Zimbabwe, only defeating Tunisia to avoid relegation. The 2013 season proved to be a pivotal moment in Kenyan rugby, as they beat both Uganda and Zimbabwe, winning the Africa Cup for the second time, and the first time in a full four team pool.

The Kenyan national team competed in the South African domestic Vodacom Cup competition in 2014, playing as the Simba XV. The Simba XV were based in Cape Town for the duration of the competition and won their opening match, beating the Eastern Province Kings 17–10.^[5] However, they lost their remaining six matches to finish in seventh spot in the Southern Section.

The preparation aided in the 2014 Africa Cup with Kenya earning victory over both Madagascar and Namibia. A loss to Zimbabwe on match day three resulted in a third-place finish on points difference and Kenya failing to qualify for the 2015 Rugby World Cup. In May 2015, Kenya played a European team for the first time since the East Africa sides of the 1970s and 1980s, defeating Portugal 41–15 in a test match at the RFUEA Ground.^[6]

Record

Kenya has recorded at least one victory against every nation it has faced, although it has never faced a top twenty ranked team.

World Rugby Rankings
Top 30 rankings as of 5 December 2016[7]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		New Zealand	94.78
2		England	89.84
3		Australia	86.97
4		Ireland	84.62
5	1	Wales	82.55
6	1	South Africa	81.79
7		Scotland	80.67
8		France	80.13
9		Argentina	79.91
10		Fiji	76.46
11		Japan	74.22
12		Georgia	74.14
13		Italy	72.47
14	1	Tonga	71.94
15	1	Samoa	71.25
16		Romania	69.36
17		United States	64.66
18		Canada	63.95
19		Russia	63.25
20		Namibia	62.78
21		Uruguay	60.66
22		Spain	60.17
23		Kenya	59.28
24		Germany	58.99
25		Portugal	56.97
26		Belgium	56.87
27		Hong Kong	56.50
28		South Korea	55.50
29		Chile	55.08
30		Netherlands	54.93
*Change from the previous week

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Arabian Gulf	4	2	2	0	50.00%	66	141	-75
Brazil	2	2	0	0	100.00%	45	42	+3
Botswana	1	1	0	0	100.00%	80	9	+71
Ivory Coast	1	1	0	0	100.00%	20	17	+3
Cameroon	4	4	0	0	100.00%	156	55	+101
Hong Kong	2	1	1	0	50.00%	51	54	-3
Madagascar	4	1	2	1	25.00%	94	73	+21
Morocco	3	1	2	0	33.33%	37	74	-37
Namibia	9	2	7	0	22.22%	166	446	-280
Nigeria	1	1	0	0	100.00%	96	3	+93
Portugal	1	1	0	0	100.00%	41	15	+36
Senegal	1	1	0	0	100.00%	22	7	+15
Spain	1	1	0	0	100.00%	36	27	+9
Tunisia	8	5	3	0	62.50%	187	209	-22
United Arab Emirates	1	1	0	0	100.00%	55	17	+38
Uganda	28	18	9	1	64.28%	683	449	+234
Zambia	4	3	1	0	75.00%	83	56	+27
Zimbabwe	20	6	14	0	30.00%	372	567	-195
Total	95	52	41	2	54.74%	2290	2261	+29

World Cup Record

World Cup record									World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A		P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Not invited								-
1991	Did not enter								Did not enter
1995	Did not qualify								3	1	0	2	40	125
1999	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	42	70
2003	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	60	42
2007	Did not qualify								6	3	1	2	111	191
2011	Did not qualify								2	1	0	1	91	52
2015	Did not qualify								5	4	0	1	153	178
2019	To be determined								To be determined
Total	0/8	0	0	0	0	0	0		20	11	1	8	497	658

Africa Cup record

Players

Current squad

Kenya squad for the 2016 Africa Cup

Backs Player Position Club Edwin Achayo Scrum-half Kabras Sugar RFC Lyle Asiligwa Scrum-half Kenya Harlequin F.C. Kelvin Masai Scrum-half Homeboyz RFC Nato Simiyu Fly-half Impala RFC Isaac Adimo Fly-half Kenya Harlequin F.C. Innocent Simiyu Fly-half Impala RFC Nick Barasa Centre Kabras Sugar RFC Fabian Olando Centre Kabras Sugar RFC David Ambunya Centre Kenya Harlequin F.C. Darwin Mukidza Wing Kenya Commercial Bank RFC Dennis Muhanji Wing Kenya Harlequin F.C. Patrice Agunda Wing Kenya Harlequin F.C. Tony Onyango Full-back Strathmore Leos Vincent Mose Full-Back Impala RFC

Forwards Player Position Club Peter Kaaria Hooker UWC Samuel Warui Hooker Nakuru RFC Moses Amusala Prop Kenya Commercial Bank RFC Curtis Lilako Prop Kenya Commercial Bank RFC James Kangethe Prop Kenya Harlequin F.C. Joseph Kangethe Prop Kenya Harlequin F.C. Oliver Mang’eni Lock Kenya Commercial Bank RFC Eric Kerre Lock Impala RFC Ronnie Mwenesi Lock Nondescripts RFC Simon Muniafu Lock Impala RFC Brian Nyikuli Flanker (c) Strathmore Leos Michael Okombe Flanker Nakuru RFC Dan Sikuta Flanker Kabras Sugar RFC Tony Owuor Number eight Homeboyz RFC Max Adaka Number eight Kabras Sugar RFC

African Leopards Representatives

• Innocent Simiyu (versus South African Students, 2005 and British Army Seniors XV, 2006)
• Dan Weku (versus British Army Seniors, 2006 and French U-20, 2007)
• Derrick Wamalwa (versus French U-20, 2007)

Recent results

Kenya competes annually against Uganda for the Elgon Cup, as well as competing for the Africa Cup. For the 2016 series, the Africa Cup fixture between Kenya and Uganda will double up as the second leg of the Elgon Cup.

KRU are planning on 3 non-African test matches.^[8]

In July 2016, Kenya earned a record 15-61 victory away to Zimbabwe in an Africa Cup test match.^[9]

2016 results

	4 June 2016	Uganda	10 – 48	Kenya	Legends Rugby Grounds, Kampala
	16:30 EAT (UTC+03)	Try: Uhuru Con: Makmot Pen: P. Wokorach	(Report)	Try: Mose Okombe Achayo Mukidza (3) Nato Con: Mukidza (5/7) Pen: Mukidza	Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (South Africa)

	17 June 2016	Brazil	17 – 18	Kenya	Estádio Zerão, Macapá
	17:00 BRT (UTC-03)	Try: Arruda 2' m Pen: Cecarelli (4/5) 10', 16', 40', 74'	(Report)	Try: Ambunya 16' c Muniafu 58' m Con: Mukidza (1/2) 17' Pen: Mukidza (2/3) 28', 77'	Referee: Alejandro Longres (Uruguay)

	27 August 2016	Kenya	34 – 10	Hong Kong	RFUEA Ground, Nairobi
	16:00 EAT (UTC+03)	Try: Kangethe Onyango Simiyu Mukidza Con: Mukidza (4/4) Pen: Mukidza (2/2)	(Report)	Try: Stiles Con: Rosslee Pen: Rosslee (1/1)	Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni (South Africa)

	9 July 2016	Zimbabwe	15 – 61	Kenya	Police Grounds, Harare
	15:30 CAT (UTC+02)	Try: Rouse 27' c Parirenyaywa 38' m Con: Tambwera (1/2) 28' Pen: Tambwera (1/1) 7'	(Report)	Try: Onyango 15' c Ambunya (2) 18' m, 32' c Muhanji (2) 30' m, 55' c Lilako 48' m Owuor 59' m Achayo 61' c Sikuta 73' m Adaka 84' m Con: Mukidza (4/9) 5', 33', 56', 62' Masai (0/1) Pen: Mukidza (1/1) 42'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

	16 July 2016	Namibia	56 – 21	Kenya	Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium
	15:00 WAT (UTC+01)	Try: Uanivi Botha Kitshoff Wilson Du Plessis (2) Van Wyk Deysel Con: Kotze (8/8)	(Report)	Try: Amusala Sikuta Kangethe Con: Mukidza (3/3)	Attendance: 800 Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen (South Africa)

	30 July 2016	Kenya	45 – 24	Uganda	RFUEA Ground, Nairobi
	15:30 EAT (UTC+03)	Try: Mwenesi Ambunya Okombe Nyikuli Muniafu Adaka Con: Mukidza (3/6) Pen: Mukidza (3/3)	(Report)	Try: Magomu Wokorach (2) Mugerwa Con: Wokorach (2/4)	Attendance: 4,169 Referee: Jaco van Heerden (South Africa)

See also

• East Africa rugby union team
• Kenya national rugby sevens team
• Vodacom Cup

Notes

References

• Campbell, M; Cohen, E.J. (1960). Rugby Football in East Africa 1909-1959. Rugby Football Union of East Africa. 

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenya national rugby union team.

• Kenya Rugby Football Union : KRFU official website
• Rugby International

National sports teams of Kenya
Association football M M U20 M U17 W W U20 W U17 Athletics Basketball M M U19 M U17 W W U19 W U17 Cricket M W Field hockey M W Handball M W Rugby league Rugby union M W M7 W7 Squash M W Tennis M W Volleyball M W
Olympics Paralympics All-Africa Games