This archive report was first published on 4 July 2021.
Published on July 4, 2021, Kenya's national rugby teams, Simbas and Lionesses, kicked off their 2021 Rugby Africa Cup campaigns with disappointing losses in Nairobi.
Simbas, the men's team, narrowly lost 20-19 to Senegal in a closely contested Group B match at Nyayo National Stadium. The team had been eyeing a third straight win over Senegal but found the going tough after a late converted try sealed the West Africans' first win over Kenya since 2009.
Kenya's fly-half, Jone Kubu, scored 14 points on his debut, including two penalties in the opening 15 minutes. However, Senegal's Mamadou Ndiaye tied the scores after two penalties were awarded to the visitors. Darwin Mukidza grounded Simbas' only try of the match, but Senegal eventually won the match with the last kick of the match through George Mendy's converted try.
Earlier, Kenya's Lionesses kicked off their Rugby Africa Women's Cup campaign with a 27-15 defeat to Madagascar.
