Kenya Simbas' Currie Cup fixtures confirmed

Kenya Simbas will play nine games at the 2023 Currie Cup First Division Mzansi Challenge, according to fixtures published by the competition organisers.

Paarwater’s side are making their second appearance at the tournament and will start their campaign against the Boland Kavaliers in Cape Town on April 1.

They then travel to face the Leopards from Potchefstroom a week later, and then face the San Clemente Rhinos on April 29.

The team will then play the Border Bulldogs on May 6 in Cape Town and the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias in Windhoek before finishing the campaign with three straight games against the Zimbabwe Goshawks on May 20, Valke, and the 2018 champions South Western Districts (SWD) Eagles from George on June 3 RFUEA Ground in Nairobi.

The preparation intensifies as Jerome Paarwater returns for a second stint as the head coach of the Simbas.

Paarwater, who was the Simbas head coach between 2013 and 2017, will be assisted by Carlos Katywa and Curtis Olago.

The team will be seeking revenge against Falcons who edged them 51-14, SWD Eagles 24-7 and Zimbabwe Goshawks 22-21 respectively in South Africa. The Simbas ended their Currie Cup season with three victories including two of them at the RFUEA.

They trounced defending champions Leopards 51-35 and Eastern Province Elephants 41-24 and 35-12 against Border Bulldogs.

The competition will feature six South African teams and four teams from abroad.

Simbas Currie Cup First Division Mzansi Challenge Fixtures

Simbas v Boland Kavaliers | City Park, Cape Town | 4.00pm | 1 April

San Clemente Rhinos v Simbas | Venue TBC | 15 April

Eastern Province v Simbas | Adcock Stadium, Gqeberha | 29 April

Windhoek Draught Welwitschias v Simbas | Hage Geingob Rugby Stadium, Windhoek | 13 May

Simbas v Valke | RFUEA Ground, Nairobi | 27 May