Kenya women's national rugby union team

For the men's team, see Kenya national rugby union team. For the women's sevens team, see Kenya women's national rugby sevens team.

Kenya

Nickname	Lionesses
Union	Kenya Rugby Union
Head coach	Dennis Mwanja
Captain	Natasha Emali
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	22 (as of 24 March 2025)
First international
Kenya 0–24 Uganda   ( Nairobi, Kenya; 13 May 2006)
Biggest win
Kenya 87–3 Uganda   ( Kisumu, Kenya; 11 November 2023)
Biggest defeat
South Africa 66–0 Kenya   ( Stellenbosch, South Africa; 12 August 2021)
World Cup
Appearances	0

The Kenya women's national rugby union team, popularly known as Lionesses are the Kenya Women's XVs Rugby Team, managed by Kenya Rugby Union. The Lionesses play in red jerseys with black shorts. The side first played in 2006 on the sixth of September and has represented Kenya in various tournaments ever since. The Lionesses currently rank 23rd in the World Rugby Rankings ^[1] and second in Africa.

History

Kenya were runners-up at the 2019 Rugby Africa Women's Cup which also doubled as a World Cup qualifying tournament. ^[2] Despite their loss, the Lionesses still advanced to a cross-regional repechage play-off against Colombia. ^[3] However, their last chances of qualifying were dashed with a narrow 15–16 loss to Colombia in Nairobi. ^[4]

Results summary

See also: List of Kenya women's national rugby union team matches

(Full internationals only, updated to 20 September 2024)

Rugby: Kenya internationals 2006-

Opponent	First game	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Percentage
Cameroon	2023	2	2	0	0	100.00%
Colombia	2021	2	1	0	1	50.00%
Kazakhstan	2023	1	0	0	1	0.00%
Madagascar	2019	6	3	0	3	50.00%
South Africa	2019	6	0	0	6	0.00%
Spain	2023	1	0	0	1	0.00%
Uganda	2006	25	15	2	8	60.00%
Zambia	2022	1	1	0	0	100.00%
Summary	2006	44	22	2	20	50.00%

Players

Kenya announced their final squad on 3 October 2023 for the inaugural WXV 3 tournament that will be held in Dubai. ^{[5] [6]}
Note: The age and number of caps listed for each player is as of 11 November 2023.

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Knight Otwoma	Hooker	{{{age}}}	17	Impala Roans
Staycy Atieno	Hooker	(1994-11-11)11 November 1994 (aged 29)	14	Mwamba
Naomi Muhanji	Hooker	{{{age}}}	5
Rose Otieno	Prop	{{{age}}}	13	Northern Suburbs
Evelyn Kalamera	Prop	{{{age}}}	19	Mwamba
Mercy Migongo	Prop	{{{age}}}	9	Impala Roans
Natasha Emali	Prop	{{{age}}}	10	Mwamba
Valentine Otieno	Prop	{{{age}}}	3	Northern Suburbs
Maureen Chebet	Lock	{{{age}}}	3	Mwamba
Faith Livoi	Lock	(2000-03-29)29 March 2000 (aged 23)	4	Mwamba
Naomi Jelagat	Lock	{{{age}}}	9	Mwamba
Helsa Khisa	Lock	{{{age}}}	6	Impala Roans
Enid Ouma (c)	Flanker	{{{age}}}	12
Diana Kemunto	Flanker	(1998-04-04)4 April 1998 (aged 25)	13	Impala Roans
Michelle Akinyi	Flanker	{{{age}}}	16	Impala Roans
Phoebe Akinyi	Number 8	{{{age}}}	8	Northern Suburbs
Judith Okumu	Scrum-half	(1998-07-12)12 July 1998 (aged 25)	12	Impala Roans
Winnie Owino	Scrum-half	{{{age}}}	11	Impala Roans
Edith Naliaka	Scrum-half	{{{age}}}	3	Mwamba
Ann Goretti	Fly-half	{{{age}}}	14	Impala Roans
Grace Okulu	Fly-half	(1998-03-16)16 March 1998 (aged 25)	14	Nakuru
Priscah Nyerere	Centre	{{{age}}}	8	Impala Roans
Laureen Akoth	Centre	{{{age}}}	8	Nakuru
Angel Charity Juma	Centre	{{{age}}}	5	Impala Roans
Sharon Auma	Wing	(2001-02-16)16 February 2001 (aged 22)	3	Impala Roans
Terry Ayesa	Wing	{{{age}}}	9	Mwamba
Lewin Amazimbi	Wing	{{{age}}}	2	Northern Suburbs
Jiveti Daisy Osore	Wing	{{{age}}}		Northern Suburbs
Diana Omosso	Fullback	{{{age}}}	7	Mwamba
Freshia Awino	Fullback	(2000-03-07)7 March 2000 (aged 23)	3	Nakuru

References

1. "World Rugby Women's Rankings".
2. "Kenya Lionesses head to South Africa for test series". nation.africa. 2021-08-09. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
3. "Lionesses squad to face Colombia revealed". Rugby Afrique. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
4. Wamathai, James (2021-08-25). "Hard fighting Kenya Women's Rugby team narrowly lose to Colombia in World Cup qualifier". HapaKenya. Retrieved 2021-11-21.
5. "Kenya Lionesses Squad Announced for Rugby WXV3 in Dubai 2023". Kenya Rugby Union. 4 October 2023. Retrieved 4 October 2023.
6. "WXV 3: Squads set for Dubai". www.world.rugby. 2023-10-03. Retrieved 2023-10-12.

External links

• Official website
• Rugby International