KRU announces Hildana Lodge as new official Simbas Rugby World Cup qualifiers sponsors
The Kenya men’s fifteens national team, The Simbas, has received a boost of Ksh 10 million in sponsorship from Teita Sisal Estate through its lodge, The Hildana Lodge ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup which doubles up as the Rugby World Cup African qualifiers set for July 1st to July 12th 2022 in France.
Speaking at the sponsorship announcement, Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Oduor Gangla said, “The Kenya Rugby Union appreciates this timely partnership that will certainly be a boost to the Simbas who have been in intense preparations over the past two years for this assignment. Our preparations started with the Rugby Africa Cup Pool B fixtures that we hosted last year in Nairobi before two tours of South Africa in November last year when the Simbas played in the Stellenbosch Quadrangular and the more recent tour that saw the team participate in the Currie Cup First Division competition between May and early June this year.”
“These funds will be used to ensure the team prepares and performs well in France, “added Gangla.
Simbas Head Coach Paul Odera on his part expressed his delight at the sponsorship, saying, “This partnership couldn’t have come at a better time. We are fully focused on the task at hand, which is to secure Kenya’s first ever qualification to the fifteens Rugby World Cup. We go out there with hopes and dreams of the millions of Kenyans and we will make you proud. Thank you once again for this gesture.”
The Simbas leave the country at 1.00am on Wednesday 29 June and begin their campaign with a quarterfinal fixture against Uganda at 4.00pm EAT on Saturday 2 July.
The semifinals are set for 6 July with the final slated for 10 July.
The winner of this tournament earns direct qualification to the 2023 Rugby World Cup with the runner up proceeding to play in a repechage tournament to earn a berth to rugby’s global showpiece.
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