- Michael Wamalwa has joined Romanian club CSM Stiinta Baia Mare on a two-year deal.
- The 20-year-old center joins the club from KCB Rugby.
- Wamalwa believes that international exposure is key to elevating Kenya’s 15s team, the Kenya Simbas, to global competitiveness.
Former Kenya under-20 rugby captain Michael Wamalwa has revealed what the national men’s 15s team must do to secure World Cup qualification following his move to Romanian club CSM Stiinta Baia Mare.
The 20-year-old center becomes the first Kenyan to join the top-tier Romanian outfit from KCB Rugby where he showcased his skills in the Kenya Cup and captained the Kenya U-20 team to victory in the 2024 Barthes title.
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Speaking after sealing the deal with his new club, a professional rugby union team competing in Romania’s premier Liga de Rugby Kaufland, Wamalwa expressed his enthusiasm about the move and the opportunity to grow in a new environment.
It’s an honour to play in Romania because the country is one of the top rugby nations in the world. I am looking forward to improving my rugby knowledge with the club and being an asset to the team,” Wamalwa said as quoted by The Star.
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Michael Wamalwa’s take on how Kenya Simbas can reach the global stage
As one of the few Kenyan players plying their trade in overseas leagues, Wamalwa strongly believes that international exposure is key to elevating Kenya’s 15s team Simbas to global competitiveness.
The only way Simbas can match up with the likes of Namibia and Zimbabwe on the continent is by having more players in professional ranks. Hopefully, we can qualify for the Rugby World Cup in future,” he added.
Michael Wamalwa now joins fellow Kenyans Malcolm Onsando, Melvin Thairu, Ian Njenga and Cornelius Mokoro in Romania’s growing rugby scene.
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CSM Stiinta Baia Mare extends warm welcome to Wamalwa
In a post on their official Facebook page, CSM Știința Baia Mare nine-time Romanian champions, including a dominant four-title streak from 2019 to 2022, warmly welcomed their newest addition:
“CSM Science Baia Mare warmly welcomes Michael Wamalwa, the first Kenyan-born player in the club’s history! Michael hails from Kenya Commercial Bank RFC, one of the most powerful and highly ranked clubs in Kenya, participating in the Kenya Cup – Kenya’s first division.
The club is recognized for its level of professionalism, having a rich history in training players for Kenya national teams, both rugby XV and 7’s.
At KCB, the new acquisition of the “zimbres” evolved in a competitive environment and stood out as a leader, which brought him the selection and the banner of the U20 national team captain.
International experience: Captain Kenya’s U20 National Team at the World Rugby U20 Trophy 2023 held in Nairobi.
He led the team to a 5th place ranking. A year later, still with the U20s, Mike manages to win the Battles Trophy competition held in Zimbabwe.
Thanks to this success, Kenya — with the same U20 team — qualifies for the World Cup, which is scheduled to take place a few months later in Scotland.
Thus, by the age of 20, Mike is affirming himself as a great player, having already had two World Cup appearances. We wish him good luck in our team’s colors!”