Kenya Sevens speedster Patrick Odongo reflects on Rugby Premier League experience
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Reading Time: 3min | Fri. 17.07.26. | 09:48
Odongo captained the Delhi Redz during the second edition of the franchise-based competition held last month, becoming the first Kenyan star trusted with a leadership role on the international stage
Kenya Sevens speedster Patrick Odongo has reflected on his experience at the 2026 Rugby Premier League (RPL), held from Tuesday, 16, to Sunday, 28 June, in India.
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The fleet-footed winger described it as an enriching journey despite his side narrowly missing out on the knockout stages.
Odongo captained the Delhi Redz during the second edition of the franchise-based competition held last month, becoming the first Kenyan star trusted with a leadership role on the international stage.
The Delhi Redz finished fifth after registering three wins and seven losses, falling short of a playoff spot. Their victories came against the Kolkata Tigers (40-28), the Bengaluru Bravehearts (14-7), and a thrilling 31-30 win over the Chennai Bulls.
Unlike his maiden appearance in the competition, Odongo was joined by fellow Kenya Sevens stars Samuel Asati, John Okoth, and Nygel Amaitsa, making the experience even more memorable.
"I came back last week on Tuesday. I am very excited to be back in the country. I missed home and food. I am happy to be back, and I missed it here," Odongo told Mozzart Sport.
The Daystar Falcons flyer admitted that while he missed home, adjusting to life in India was easier than expected, especially when it came to the cuisine.
"The food in India is not different from the food in Kenya: rice, biryani, everything we eat here in Kenya. The only difference is the chili. But I enjoyed the food we ate there," he explained.
One of the biggest highlights for Odongo was sharing the dressing room and pitch with familiar faces from the Kenya Sevens setup, something he said made settling into the tournament much easier.
"It was really exciting to share the pitch with some of my teammates. I love playing around them; we have the same chemistry, and we could bond. This time round, I had people to talk to, someone we could speak the same language with. There was no language barrier. I enjoyed staying there with my teammates," he said.
Being entrusted with the captain's armband was another proud milestone in the speedster's career. Odongo believes the opportunity reflects the growing respect Kenyan rugby players are earning on the global stage.
"Captaining the team was a great show. Rugby in Kenya is still growing, so people trusting and believing in us and giving us such opportunities is great. I enjoyed being a captain, though we lost. Leading the team was great," he noted.
While Delhi Redz ultimately fell short of the playoffs, Odongo believes the team showed resilience after a difficult start to the campaign.
"This year, our momentum came a little late. We started winning our games a bit late, and we could not reach the knockout stages, but the boys put in a great shift. They were all working towards winning and improving our skills and everything. But we have another chance next year if we go back there," he said.
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