News

Kenya Sevens star Collins Injera keen to ‘fight for his place’

Thursday, January 16th, 2020 00:00 | By
Kenya Sevens star Collins Injera goes for try against Somoa during a past Vegas Sevens tournament. Photo/PD/File

After sitting out the season openers in Dubai and Cape Town, Kenya’s record try scorer Collins Injera will return for the third and fourth legs of the World Rugby Sevens Series  in Hamilton, New Zealand and Sydney, Australia.

Injera had been sidelined by a shoulder injury picked during the Safari Sevens tournament in October and was expected to return ahead of the January 25-26 Hamilton round which has proved to be the case.

“I am always honoured to wear that jersey and represent the country but unfortunately, I did not play in the first two legs.

The team played very well and that has me figuring out how I will fit in,” Injera told People Sport yesterday.

Shujaa Technical Director Paul Feeney is also excited to have Injera, who has 271 tries to his name, only bettered by the 338 of England’s Dan Norton. 

“He’s obviously a very influential player. 

Travelling party

He trained the house down before the first series tournaments but couldn’t go. It’s great to have him back with the boys. Looking forward to him adding to his try scoring list too,” said Feeney. 

Also making the travelling party is KCB speedster and Geoffrey Okwach, joint top try scorer at the Safari Sevens who just nine months ago was part of the Kenya Under-20 squad that qualified for the World Rugby Junior Trophy after beating Namibia 21-18 in the Barthes Cup final in Nairobi.

The duo, alongside Herman Humwa, are the three changes from the team that did duty in Dubai and Cape Town.

“Getting to the Kenya sevens platform has been challenging and I am honoured to show what I got and contribute to a great team performance,” said Okwach.

Jacob Ojee and Oscar Dennis, who were part of the squad for the series openers, are , however, out of this tour through injury while Daniel Sikuta is rested.

Shujaa collected four and 11 points in the opening two legs which leaves them on the 16-team table and given they have targeted a top eight finish, they will have to be targeting at least 12 points every leg.

That will not be easy, however, since they are in Pool B for the Hamilton leg alongside second-placed South Africa, fifth-placed England and minnows Japan.

Shujaa, who are captained by Andrew Amonde leave Nairobi for Hamilton, on Saturday.

More on News


ADVERTISEMENT