Former Kenya Simbas captain Davis Chenge has outlined four key areas the team needs to address if the country is to realise her dream of qualifying for the 2032 Rugby World Cup.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsChenge believes Kenya must commit to a long-term development plan, invest in professional player contracts and strengthen coaching and officiating standards if the national 15s team is to qualify for the biggest stage.Chenge, who recently retired from rugby at the age of 34 after two decades in the game, says the Simbas cannot achieve their World Cup ambitions through short-term interventions but need a sustained programme built around clear targets and consistent investment.Kenya 7s speedster opens up on inaugural Ultimate 7s experienceKenya missed out on qualification for the 2027 Men's Rugby World Cup in Australia after suffering a heartbreaking 29-23 defeat to Zimbabwe in the semi-finals of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup in Kampala, Uganda.The Simbas had led 18-13 at half-time but were unable to hold on, before losing 15-5 to Algeria in the third-place playoff to finish fourth in the continental tournament.Zimbabwe went on to defeat Namibia 30-28 in the final to secure Africa's qualification slot, ending a 34-year absence from the World Cup.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067609##Drawing lessons from the Sables' journey, Chenge believes Kenya must be prepared to invest several years in building a competitive national team rather than expecting immediate results.“The harsh reality is that we are not going to do it in a year and qualify for the World Cup. That is very difficult. I will take the example of Zimbabwe. For Zimbabwe to qualify for the World Cup this year, it is something that they have worked on for, I think, over eight years. Paul Murunga identifies three key fixes for Mwamba ahead of Kenya Cup returnThey have been doing it consistently. Even when they were failing, they still kept the programme, and finally, it worked for them,” Chenge observed.The former international believes the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) should establish a four-year roadmap that identifies the team's weaknesses, strengthens existing structures and provides a clear pathway towards World Cup qualification.According to Chenge, consistency in implementing the plan will be just as important as the resources committed to it.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067580##“If we really want to qualify for the World Cup, we must set a goal. My opinion is we give ourselves probably four years of consistent work; building up on the systems, looking at the things that are not working, keep fixing them,” he said.He also called for the introduction of full-time player contracts to enable the national team to maintain a consistent squad and reduce the conflict between club commitments and international duty.The lack of player availability has long been a challenge for national teams whose athletes must balance domestic competitions, employment and international assignments.Chrissant Ojwang opens up on mental toll of injuries in rugbyChenge believes professional contracts would give the Simbas greater continuity in their preparations, allowing players to train together regularly and develop the combinations needed to compete against Africa's leading rugby nations.“Also, we might need to have players on full-time contracts so that they can be available to play every other time, and not have to choose between club and national duty,” he added.Beyond player availability and long-term planning, Chenge identified continuous education and improved officiating as other important areas requiring attention.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067596##He believes regular rugby clinics would help players improve their technical knowledge and skills while ensuring that the national team keeps pace with the evolving demands of the international game.The former KCB Rugby forward also stressed the importance of preparing players for the standards they will encounter during World Cup qualification tournaments, including the Rugby Africa Cup and the repechage route.In his view, the quality of officiating in domestic competitions must reflect international standards to help players adapt to how matches are controlled at the highest level.Specmagic reveals what makes Kenyan rugby unique“We also need to have clinics so that we keep building on our rugby knowledge and skills. One other thing that we need to work on is our officiating. That plays a very key role. We need to have referees being able to officiate the game at the same level as the international level so that players get used to the kind of officiating we get to meet at the qualifiers, the repechage, etc. We need to have this whole system working towards achieving that,” he said.Chenge's proposals come as KRU looks to rebuild the Simbas following their failure to qualify for the 2027 tournament. The union has previously indicated plans to integrate experienced senior players with emerging talent from the national Under-20 side, Chipu.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067437##“The union needs to sit down, make a four-year plan, and start working towards it so that we can make sure we achieve that goal. I believe we have quality talent; we just need to find a way to incorporate all these things together so that we can find a way to achieve it,” he said.Chenge's call for a more structured approach to the Simbas' development comes after a distinguished playing career that saw him represent both Kenya's 15s and sevens national teams.The hard-hitting utility forward brought his playing career to an end at 34 after spending two decades representing KCB Rugby and the national sides, earning a reputation for his consistency, physicality and leadership.Brian Wahinya opens up on painful doping ordeal and journey to healingAt club level, he won four Kenya Cup titles with KCB, alongside multiple Elgon Cup triumphs with the Simbas and the 2018 National Sevens Circuit crown.He also represented Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) Rugby and Western Bulls before moving to Nairobi.Internationally, Chenge earned 33 caps for Kenya's 15s side and featured in 11 tournaments with Shujaa, becoming one of the few players to captain both national teams.##NAJAVA_MECA_10067563##He played key roles in Kenya's run to the 2014 Confederation of African Rugby (CAR) Cup Sevens final and the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series tournament in Wellington, where Shujaa finished runners-up.