Rugby: Collins Injera dropped as Odera names final Simbas team for World Cup Repechage

Kenyan rugby sevens star Collins Injera in action against China during their Hong Kong Sevens tournament in Hong Kong, 2012 DENNIS OKEYO

Kenya Simbas head coach Paul Odera on Friday named a squad of 30 players who will represent Kenya in the 2023 Rugby World Cup final qualification round in Dubai next month with the notable absence of Shujaa star Collins Injera.

Injera returned after three years out in June and featured in the Carling Currie Cup First Division match and Rugby Africa Cup but has since dropped out of favor.

Others to miss include Dominic Coulson and Andrew Matoka due to academic commitments, Davis Chenge due to work commitments, Jone Kubu and Derrick Ashihundu miss out from the tournament due to injuries.

KCB star Vincent Onyala is also out as he is currently working with the Kenya Sevens team preparing for the 2022-2023 World Rugby Sevens season.
Odera has however retained the majority of the players he worked with during the Currie Cup and the Rugby Africa Cup in France and has included two new faces (Amon

Wamalwa and Joshua Weru) to the Simbas set up who are scheduled to earn their first cup during the Repechage.

Speaking at the team naming, head coach Odera started off by thanking the various institutions and organizations that have come together to ensure the Simbas training camps have been efficient.

He praised the newbies for their improved work rate as he targets a better show in Dubai

 “Amon was with us when we were coaching the U20s. We have tracked his progress and development over the last two years and we were pleased when his health was restored. He is young and has a lot of potentials. He does not let errors affect how he plays and embraces uncertainty very well,” he said. 

“Joshua Weru has played rugby since the age of 6 and he has been exposed to good coaching at every stage of his rugby development. A really exciting prospect with very little fear in him and the willingness to work hard. His ball-carrying ability and how he conducts himself are of much older players. He also has the right subtle skills to make a difference on attack and defense.”

Odera added that the blend of youth and experience will be the key component in getting the Simbas to qualify.

“This camp will also assist us to tweak a few areas of our play and get our overseas players to train with the team together after a number of months away.” He concluded.

The Simbas head to Dubai on November 1st for the Repechage and will return on November 20th.
 Kenya Simbas Squad to the RWC Repechage

1.Patrick Ouko,2 Edward Mwaura, 3. Andrew Peter, 4. Eugene Sifuna, 5. Brian Waraba, 6. Teddy Akala, 7. Ephraim Oduor, 8. Joseph Odero, 9. Thomas Okeyo, 10. Brian Otieno, 11. Malcolm Onsando, 12. Clinton Odhiambo, 13. George Nyambua, 14. Daniel Sikuta - Captain, 15. Martin Owilah, 16. Bethwel Anami, 17. Joshua Weru*, 18. Samuel Asati, 19. Brian Tanga, 20. Samson Onsomu, 21. Geoffrey Ominde, 22. Amon Wamalwa*, 23. Jacob Ojee, 24. Timothy Omela, 25. John Okoth, 26. Geoffrey Okwach, 27. Peter Kilonzo, 28. Bryceson Adaka, 29. Beldad Ogeta, 30. Darwin Mukidza, 31. Ian Masheti