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Kenya are eyeing a first ever appearance at a Rugby World Cup. Next month the Simbas will face Canada, Germany, and Hong Kong in the Repechage with the winner qualifying for Japan 2019 as the final participant.
Kenya is preparing for the Repechage with Sevens stars among the 33-man training roster. In the abbreviated form of rugby Kenya is firmly the second best from Africa after South Africa and has been so successful that it won the 2016 Singapore Sevens tournament.
In Senior Men’s rugby Kenya is Africa’s third best behind South Africa and Namibia. In the recent Africa Gold Cup Kenya was within range of qualifying directly for RWC 2019 as Africa 1. Namibia ultimately claimed the spot with Kenya finishing as Africa 2.
As Africa 2 Kenya join Americas 3 (Canada), Europe / Oceania play-off loser (Germany), and Asia / Oceania repechage play-off (Hong Kong) in Repechage.
The RWC 2019 Repechage tournament will take place at the Stade Pierre Delort, a 5,000-seat stadium located adjacent to the 67,000-capacity Vélodrome near the city-centre of Marseille, France.
Kenya will face Canada first up on Sunday November 11. The Simbas then take-on Germany on Saturday November 17 and close out against Germany on Friday November 23. Only Canada has prior RWC experience and none of the three others have ever made it this far in RWC qualifying.
A review of historical results and the qualification process can be seen here.
All four will be looking to claim the Repechage Winner spot at RWC 2019. Kenya’s ongoing preparation has been documented by World Rugby in the following video.
