K'Opondo in line for Simba return
What you need to know:
- Kenya last met Tunisia during the Africa Rugby Division 1A play-off in 2012 where they Simba won 31-24 to survive relegation to Division 1B.
- Kenya meet Spain on July 25 in Nairobi before facing-off with the World Cup-bound Namibia August 8 in Windhoek.
Kenya Harlequin’s second-row, Wilson K’Opondo, is back in training with the Kenya Simba squad preparing for the Africa Rugby Division 1A match against Tunisia on Sunday at the RFUEA grounds.
The former skipper wasn’t able to play in a test match against the Wolves from Portugal Wolves on May 30 and Division 1A opener against Zimbabwe Sables on June 13 in Harare owing to academic commitments.
Kenya edged out the Wolves 41-15 to scale to 29th place in the World Rugby rankings but lost to the Sables 20-28 to drop one place in the rankings.
“We are glad K’Opondo (Wilson) is back in training and ready for selection when the team is named on Thursday,” said team manager Wangila Simiyu.
Also back in training after missing the two ties is Kenya Commercial Bank’s hooker Max Adaka, who has recovered from a shoulder injury.
Four players who played for Kenya “A” against Uganda in Elgon Cup on Saturday; Strathmore Leos fly-half Kenny Andola, wing Ian Minjire (Impala Saracens), hooker David Kaaria (KCB) and eighth man Dalmus Chituyi (Nakuru), are also training with the team.
“Morale is high in the team and there is good pressure ahead of selection with the return of many key players,” said Wangila. “We want to beat Tunisia by a big margin considering that we lost to Zimbabwe while Namibia beat Tunisia 22-14 in the opener.”
GOOD RECORD
Kenya last met Tunisia during the Africa Rugby Division 1A play-off in 2012 where they Simba won 31-24 to survive relegation to Division 1B.
The North Africans, who lost to Kenya 16-7 in Nairobi in the Africa Rugby Division 1A final in 2011, are due in the country on Friday. Kenya went on to win the title for the second time in 2013, beating Zimbabwe 29-17 in Madagascar.
Wangila explained that their target is to win in their subsequent match against Spain in a test match, and Namibia in their last Division 1A encounter so as to break into the top 25 in the World Rugby ranking.
Kenya meet Spain on July 25 in Nairobi before facing-off with the World Cup-bound Namibia August 8 in Windhoek.
