“Rugby Gave Me a Life and a Name”: Kenya Star Asati on Breaking Family Tradition

Algeria and Kenya will face off in the third-place play-off at the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup on Saturday, July 19, in Kampala, Uganda. The match will be streamed live on RugbyPass TV and the Rugby Africa Facebook page.

KAMPALA, Uganda – Kenya rugby ace Samuel Asati can decide a game in a split second with his deftness and sudden burst of speed.

Making decisions is something that the 26-year-old scrumhalf had to teach himself from an early age, perhaps after realising that his upbringing didn’t seem to offer him much choices for a career.

“I come from a military family, I’m the last-born in a family of four boys,” Asati tells Rugby Africa ahead of the Rugby Africa Cup final day on Saturday, July 19,

“My dad is a military officer and my two brothers are also in the military.”

The affable Asati lets out a hearty chuckle when asked if he ever felt compelled to follow his three older family members into the barracks.

“There was some pressure, yes,” he quips. “But I guess there is no difference between being a soldier and a sportsman. We are all addicted to adrenaline.”

Kenya lost 29-23 to Zimbabwe in a hard-fought Rugby Africa Cup semi-final on Sunday, dealing a hammer blow to the Simbas’ hopes of qualifying for the Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027.

“Of course, we knew this wasn’t going to be an easy match,” says Asati.

“I think our structure worked well, we just didn’t hold on and counter Zimbabwe’s game, and it cost us heavily I guess.”

Asati played in Rugby Africa’s last World Cup qualification tournament hosted by France in 2022. He has however featured more prominently for his country in the HSBC SVNS Series, catching the eye with outstanding performances on tour.

“The journey on the SVNS circuit has been exciting, I first joined after we got relegated, and we managed to fight our way back and also qualify for the Olympics as well,” he says.

“The team had to get used to each other again, and now I think we are where we really should be. I was also privileged to be made co-captain. We are always focused on not letting our nation down.”

Kenya spent a month in South Africa fine-tuning for the Rugby Africa Cup, a preparatory tour that made their Sevens stars fit in the XV set-up for the crucial Kampala tournament.

“It helped with the transition from Sevens, getting used to the boys and patterns,” says Asati.

“The games were tough, high intensity. We created a good bond.”

Kenya will now play Algeria in the third-place play-off on Saturday at the Rugby Africa Cup, hoping to end on a high after the disappointment of losing the crucial semi-final to the Sables.

After that, Asati feels he has a duty to make amends in the shorter format of the game.

“We came here to Uganda carrying the hopes of a nation, unfortunately we just didn’t cross the line,” he says.

“For me, I’ll go back to Sevens and bring glory to Kenya in that format of the game.”

Asati hasn’t forgotten where he comes from. When he is back home in Kenya, he coaches children from the slums, developing their social skills and getting them involved in team-based activities.

“I’ve been a product of age-group rugby in my country, I was raised in the Shamas Rugby Foundation,” he says.

“Now, as a grown up, I act as a coach. It’s my form of giving back, and transforming life through rugby, as happened to me. My first flight was through rugby. Rugby has given me the networks; it has given me a life and a name.”

Next Saturday, July 19, Algeria and Kenya will clash for third place of the Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda. While Namibia and Zimbabwe will clash in the final of the Rugby Africa Cup. The winner will secure a spot at the Men’s Rugby World Cup Australia 2027. The losing finalists will remain in Kampala for another week to take on the United Arab Emirates in a decisive play-off. The UAE finished as runners-up in the 2025 Asia Rugby Emirates Men’s Championship.

The 2025 Rugby Africa Cup features eight of the continent’s top teams, Uganda, Namibia, Kenya, Morocco, Algeria, Cote d’Ivoire, Senegal, and 2024 champions Zimbabwe, competing in a knockout tournament for the African spot at the Rugby World Cup, the winner will also qualify for the second division of the Nations Cup. Notably, with all qualification set to conclude by the end of 2025, a first in Men’s Rugby World Cup history, all participating teams will be confirmed ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2027 Draw. The World Rugby Rankings will inform team seedings for the tournament draw. Fans interested in tickets for RWC 2027 can register at here.

All matches will be played at Mandela National Stadium and broadcast live by official partner NBS Sport (https://nbssport.co.ug), while also streamed globally on RugbyPass TV and the Rugby Africa Facebook page. Tickets are available to local fans through MTN MoMo platforms (https://www.mtn.co.ug/momo), the official payments partner, with both general admission and VIP options currently on sale. Supporters across Uganda and the region are encouraged to book early and be part of this historic milestone in African rugby.

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Streaming

Rugby Africa Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RugbyAfrique

RugbyPass TV: https://rugbypass.tv

Match Day 1: Tuesday 08 July 2025 (Local Time) (EAT)

• 10:00 – Zimbabwe (43) vs Morocco (9)
• 12:00 – Algeria (41) vs Cote d’Ivoire (6)
• 14:00 – Namibia (55) vs Senegal (17)
• 16:00 – Kenya (32) vs Uganda (24)

Match Day 2: Sunday 13 July 2025 (Local Time) (EAT)

• 10:00 – Cote d’Ivoire (3) vs Senegal (28)
• 12:00 – Morocco (24) vs Uganda (12)
• 14:00 – Algeria (7) vs Namibia (21)
• 16:00 – Zimbabwe (29) vs Kenya (23)

Match Day 3: Saturday 19 July 2025 (Local Time) (EAT)

• 10:00 – Senegal vs Morocco (5th Place Final)
• 12:00 – Algeria vs Kenya (3rd Place Final)
• 14:00 – Côte d’Ivoire vs Uganda (7th Place Final)
• 16:00 – Namibia vs Zimbabwe
   

Written by Enock Muchinjo