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Kenya’s preparations for the Rugby World Cup Qualifiers in Marseille next month have hit a major snag. The team sat out training on Monday in protest as the Kenyan Rugby Union (KRU) struggles to pay them promised salary allowances.
Each player was to receive 40,000 Kenya Shillings, roughly $400 USD, per month for September, October, and November as compensation for the increased training regime. The KRU meanwhile has placed the blame on the Kenyan Government, claiming their initial request for $600,000 USD funding was reduced to $360,000 USD but that none at all has been transferred to the Union.
Plans for three proposed warm-up matches have now been scrapped. Namibia were due to arrive in Nairobi this weekend but the match has been called off, with Namibia Rugby Limited (NRL) – the country’s high performance arm supported by World Rugby – at odds with the Namibian Rugby Union (NRU).
The NRL claims that they submitted match documents to the NRU, but the Union did not complete their administrative requirements to World Rugby in time for the match to take place. In August the clash between the two sides saw the Welwitchias withdrawn from South Africa’s Currie Cup competition.
Also due to arrive in Nairobi next week were the British Army (Kenya Unit) and South African side Loftus 200. Both teams have pulled out due to financial constraints.
The match against Romania ‘A’ in Bucharest on November 3, however, will go ahead as planned. A second match against the Romanians may be requested with other matches against local opposition to be arranged prior to departure.
Of better news for the Simbas is that Romania will field an ‘A’ side of near test strength. New coach Thomas Lièvremont has included nine members of the 2015 World Cup squad.
Two of them – goal kicker Florin Vlaicu and fullback Catalin Fercu – are test centurions while scrumhalf Valentin Calafeteanu is just behind in 97 caps. Hooker Andrei Radoi, flanker Viorel Lucaci, and scrumhalf Florin Surugiu each boast more than 60 caps worth of experience.
It is ideal preparation for the Repechage tournament that will see Kenya face Canada, Hong Kong, and Germany with the winner to advance to RWC 2019. The task now for the Simbas management will be to find further fixtures and assurances that their financial concerns will be put behind them.
ROMANIA ‘A’
FORWARDS
Vasile Balan (CSM Bucuresti), Alex Gordas (CSM Bucuresti), Laurentiu Nica (Uni Cluj), Constantin Pristavita (Baia Mare), Alexandru Savin (CSM Bucuresti), Florin Bardasu (CSM Bucuresti), Eugen Capatana (Timisoara), Andrei Radoi (Timisoara), Bogdan Doroftei (Steaua), Marian Drenceanu (Timisoara), Dumani Mtya (Baia Mare), Ionut Muresan (Timisoara), Marcel Rusu (Steaua), Cristi Chirica (Baia Mare), Adrian Ion (CSM Bucuresti), Viorel Lucaci (Steaua), Kuselo Moyake (Steaua), Vlad Neculau (Timisoara), Damian Stratila (Steaua)
BACKS
Tudorel Bratu (CSM Bucuresti), Valentin Calafeteanu (CSM Bururesti), Florin Surugiu (Steaua), Tudor Boldor (Steaua), Daniel Plai (Steaua), Vladut Popa (Timisoara), Fonovai Tangimana (CSM Bucuresti), Florin Vlaicu (CSM Bucuresti), Ionut Dumitru (Steaua), Madalin Lemnaru (Timisoara), Robert Neagu (Steaua), Catalin Fercu (Timisoara), Ionel Melinte (Steaua), Marius Simionescu (Timisoara)
