Last Chance Saloon: Shujaa Face Canada In Repechage Opener
28th August 2018
Hong Kong, Canada and Germany also vying for the final ticket for the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan
- Ian Snook and his charges that fell short of clinching the automatic ticket to the World Cup when they fell 28-53 to Namibia in their closing 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup clash
- Simbas will resume training on Monday to prepare for the round robin Repechage showdown for the last available ticket to Japan
- The winner will claim a berth in Pool B of the RWC that New Zealand, South Africa, Italy and old rivals Namibia
- Kenya has been seeded third for this competition based on their global ranking of 28
NAIROBI, Kenya- Kenya Shujaa XVs will embark on their final bid to qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC) on November 11 when they take on Canada according to the Repechage competition draw released by the world body.
Ian Snook and his charges that fell short of clinching the automatic ticket to the World Cup when they fell 28-53 to Namibia in their closing 2018 Rugby Africa Gold Cup clash on August 18, will also take on Germany and Hong Kong in their quest to make a maiden World Cup.
Simbas will resume training on Monday to prepare for the round robin Repechage showdown for the last available ticket to Japan that will run in Marseille, France from November 11 to 23.
The winner will claim a berth in Pool B of
the RWC that has champions New Zealand, Snook’s country of birth, African
giants and two-time winners, South Africa Springboks, Italy and continental
title holders and old rivals Namibia.
Global giants
Kenya has been seeded third for this
competition based on their global ranking of 28 behind Hong Kong (21) and
Canada (23) with Germany (29) fourth in what will be a tight contest to make
Japan.
Canada reached this competition after failing to qualify from the Americas region; Germany fell to a play-off defeat against Samoa while Hong Kong qualified for the Repechage after with another play-off victory over the Cook Islands.
Kenya finished second to Namibia in the continental tournament they last won in 2013 for the third time in a row after winning four of their five fixtures against Uganda, Tunisia, Morocco and Zimbabwe.
New Zealander Snook who has previously been involved in record World Cup winners, All Blacks set up, succeeded South African Jerome Paarwater in January this year.
-Material from www.kru.co.ke used to compile this report
Repechage Fixtures (East African Time/+3GMT)
Sunday, November 11
Hong Kong v Germany – 4.00pm
Canada v Kenya – 6.30pm
Sunday, November 17
Hong Kong v Kenya – 4.00pm
Canada v Germany – 6.30pm
Friday, November 23
Kenya v Germany – 8.00pm
Hong Kong v Canada – 10.30p