Davis Chege will captain Kenya Simbas, thye national rugby-15-aside in absence of ill captain Wilson Kopondo ahead of Saturday’s first leg of Elgon Cup against Uganda as they team prepares for 2019 World Cup qualifiers for Africa region.
New coach Ian Snook named the squad today ahead of the opening season as experienced Kenya Commercial Bank’s Darwin Mukidza.
With five new players making a cut, the focus will be on captain Chege who will be assisted by Samson Onsomu.
New players include Patrick Ouko, Malcolm Onsando , Andrew Chogo, Xavier Bett and Joseph Odero.
The Simbas will host Uganda in the Elgon Cup return leg on July 7 in Nairobi and will double as Africa Gold Cup.
Last year, Kenya won the title with an aggregate of 56-51 victory courtesy of first leg’s 23-18 win in Kampala and a 33-33 draw in Nairobi.
With 2019 world cup near, the African teams will play in a round robin format with the top team after five rounds getting the sole ticket.
Kenya opens their campaign away to Morocco on June 23 before hosting Zimbabwe and Uganda in Nairobi on June 30 and July 7 respectively.
There will be a one-month break to pave way for Sevens World Cup before the qualifiers resume for the last two rounds when Kenya will take on Tunisia on Saturday August 11 at home and head to Namibia for the final game on Saturday August 18.
Namibia won the qualifiers in 2014 to head to the World Cup. Runner up in the 2018 edition will head to a four-team global repechage.
The four repechage teams will play a round-robin to decide which country will draw into Pool B in Japan with New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and Africa 1.
Both Kenya and Uganda dropped a position each, to 30 and 35 respectively, in the latest World Rugby Rankings released on Monday 21 May 2018.
Full squad
Patrick Ouko*(Homeboyz), Philip Ikambili (Homeboyz), Joseph Odero* (Kabras), Malcolm Onsando* (Quins), Oliver Mang’eni (KCB), George Nyambua (Kabras), Elkeans Musonye (Strathmore), Tony Onyango (Homeboyz), Martin Owilah (KCB), Samson Onsomu (Impala), Isaac Adimo (Quins), Leo Seje (Impala), Peter Kilonzo (KCB), Darwin Mukidza, Jacob Ojee (KCB), Peter Karia (KCB), Vincent Mose (Impala), Curtis Lilako (KCB), Andrew Chogo* (Kabras), Davis Chenge (KCB), Xavier Bett* (Impala), Biko Adema (Nondies), Oscar Simiyu (KCB)
Management: Ian Snook (Head Coach), Murray Roulston (Assistant Coach), Dominique Habimana (Forwards Coach), Richard Ochieng (Conditioning Coach), Christopher Makachia (Physio), Simiyu Wangila (Team Manager)