Kenya Simbas to prowl for World Cup slot against US
Kenya’s rugby 15-a-side national team Simbas will kick off the last round of the World Cup qualification against the United States of America (USA).
According to World Rugby, the final qualification tournament will determine the 20th and final qualifier for Rugby World Cup 2023 in France.
The Paul Odera-coached side will be seeking to qualify for the global bonanza for the first time in the country’s history.
In the fixtures, Hong Kong, Kenya, Portugal and USA will face each other in a round-robin format with the team accruing the highest points securing the last spot at France 2023.
The much-awaited duels will be played over three match days from the sixth to the 18th of November at the Sevens Stadium in Dubai.
The latest World rugby men’s rankings have been used to determine the decisive tournament’s match schedule.
Kenya Simbas who are currently ranked position 33 globally will kick off their quest for a World Cup ticket against a 19th-placed USA.
The eventual winner and final team to join the Rugby World Cup 2023 adventure will take their place in Pool C alongside Wales, Australia, Fiji, and Georgia.
Simbas missed out on the direct qualification ticket but were offered a lifeline through the Repêchage route following their humiliating loss to Namibia in the Africa Cup final.
In their quest to earn the direct ticket, the Kenya Simba showcased their talent in the quarter-final against rivals Uganda with an impressive 42-7 to book a semi-final date with Algeria.
They topped that performance with a nail-biting 36-33 win against Algeria to send themselves to the final.
