Kenya Simbas rise to position 22 in rugby ranking

What you need to know:

  • Going for Four Nations crown
  • Victory against HK lifts national team to its best placing in the world

Kenya Simbas scaled to position 22, their best ever placing in the World Rugby ranking following their comprehensive 34-10 victory over Hong Kong Dragons on Saturday at the RFUEA grounds.

Jerome Paawater’s charges improved two places from 24th while Hong Kong, who were 22nd slumped three places to 25th.

Kenya Simbas could move to the top 18 in the World Ranking before the end of the year if they are to win the Four-Nation tournament scheduled for November in Hong Kong.

If Kenya make the Hong Kong Tour, the Simbas will face off with the hosts the Dragons, Portugal and Spain. Simbas are expected to replace Zimbabwe Sables, who have been disbanded after a poor run in the Africa Rugby Cup Division 1A that saw them relegated to Division 1B next year.

“Our main aim would be to break into the top 18 in the rankings and uphold in the second-tier, since the first-tier involves top 15 teams,” said Kenya 15s manager Wangila Simiyu.

“Many thought that it as a dream to break into the top 25, but we have managed with our meagre resources,” he added.

Wangila said the battle ahead will even be tougher by virtue of taking on big guns hence it will call for Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) and its partners to up their stakes with more resources needed.

“The welfare of the players and the technical bench should also be on their agenda,” he added.

Even though Kenya are ranked above the rest of the teams in the Four Nations event, KRU chairman Richard Omwela said the tournament in Hong Kong is still important. Simbas are ranked above Spain (23), Hong Kong (25) and Portugal (30).

Kenya Simbas stunned European sides Portugal and Spain, who were ranked above them 41-15 and 36-27, respectively on May 30 and July 18 last year, in Nairobi to scale to 27th place in the World Rugby ranking.

“As much as we want matches that will add value to our course, there will be need to prove to our rivals going to Hong Kong that it wasn’t a fluke when we hammered them,” said Omwela.

Argentina Los Pumas were also major performers at the weekend, climbing two places to seventh in the World Rugby Rankings after beating South Africa 26-24 in The Rugby Championship.

Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias’s penalty two minutes from time secured Argentina a 26-24 victory over South Africa in Salta and a two-place climb to seventh in the latest World Rugby Rankings.

South Africa remain third despite the defeat, although are now more than four rating points adrift of England and less than a point above Australia, whose rating is unchanged despite a 29-9 loss to New Zealand.