Kenya Simbas Team Manager Jimmy Mnene has described the mood in camp as upbeat and focused, with World Cup qualification firmly on the players’ minds ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup kickoff in Uganda.
“I think a successful tournament would be us going to the World Cup,” Mnene said shortly after the team touched down in Kampala.
“We had a smooth trip from Nairobi, just 55 minutes, and the team is excited to be in Uganda. The vibe in camp is good — we’ve had a solid month of preparation down in South Africa, played tough games, and now we’re ready for action.”
Kenya faces a massive opening test against hosts Uganda on July 8 in what’s being dubbed a do-or-die quarterfinal at Nelson Mandela Stadium.
The winner will move a step closer to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Mnene acknowledged the challenge ahead.
“Going into that game, I’d say Kenya is the underdog. Uganda beat the Limpopo Blue Bulls — a team we lost to in South Africa — and they’ve got home support. But this is a derby. It’s not just about form. It’s about heart, and we expect Kenyan fans to come out strong. Every game from here is a final. That one is a final in itself.”
The top team in the Rugby Africa Cup will automatically qualify for the World Cup, while the runner-up will head into the global repechage tournament for one last shot at qualification.
Kenya, alongside Namibia, Zimbabwe, Algeria, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, Morocco, and Uganda, is competing in the eight-nation tournament, which doubles as Africa’s pathway to the World Cup.
