Kenya Lionesses Set For Two Friendlies In South Africa Ahead Of WXV3 Tourney
11th September 2023
The Dennis Mwanja-coached side will play Colombia, Kazakhstan and Spain in the WVX3 tournament to be held in Dubai.
- Kenya will play against the South Africa national team on Saturday 16 September before taking on the San Clemente Rhinos a week later.
- Enid Ouma captains the side which is set to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
- Lionesses finished as runners up behind South Africa in the 2023 Rugby Africa Women's Cup to secure their spot in the inaugural WXV3 competition.
The women’s national
rugby 15s team, Kenya Lionesses, will play two build up matches in South
Africa as part of their preparations for the inaugural World Rugby WXV3
competition set for 13-28 October 2023 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The team will play
against the South Africa national team on Saturday 16 September before taking
on the San Clemente Rhinos a week later.
Head coach Dennis
Mwanja welcomed the fixtures, saying, “We are at a very exciting time in Kenya
Lionesses history.
This invitation to
play the friendlies has come about because of the journey we have been through
in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, from topping Pool B in Uganda to ending up
overall runners up in Madagascar, a feat that earned us qualification to the
newly introduced World Rugby WXV3.
These two matches
serve as a build up to the tournament in Dubai. We will have the team minus the
7s players who are preparing for the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens which take
place on the same weekend as the WXV3 opener.
This is therefore an
opportunity for us to focus on our depth and build our capacity and experience
as the Lionesses. This tour of South Africa is indeed a shot in the arm,” added
Mwanja.
“We are looking at
taking a game at a time. This is unchartered territory for the Lionesses but we
are happy to roll with the punches and take in the experience. We are quietly
confident, we are happy about the upcoming period of activity,’’ concluded
Mwanja.
Enid Ouma captains the
side which is set to arrive in South Africa on Wednesday 13 September 2023.
In Dubai, Lionesses
will compete against Spain, Kazakhstan and Colombia.
Lionesses squad to
South Africa
Rose Otieno, Knight
Otwoma, Natasha Emali, Faith Livoi*,
Hesla Khisa, Diana Kemunto, Enid Ouma, Naomi Jelagat, Winnie Owino, Ann Goretti, Jiveti Daisy Osore*, Priscah Nyerere, Naomi Amuguni ,Esther Juma*, Diana
Omoso*, Naomi Muhanji*, Evelyne Kalemera, Mercy Migongo, Phoebe Ouma, Judith
Okumu, Grace Okulu, Sinaida Mokaya, Stella Wafula, Sharon Auma, Michelle Akinyi
*Denotes Debutantes
Lionesses Schedule
South Africa v Kenya |
Saturday 16 September 2023 | 1600hrs EAT
San Clemente Rhinos v
Kenya | Saturday 23 September 2023 | 1400hrs EAT