Safari7s: Veterans Collins Injera and Andrew Amonde to play but not for Kenya

Kenyan rugby veterans Collins Injera and Andrew Amonde are in line to feature at the 2021 Safari Sevens Tournament that takes place over this weekend at the Nyayo National Stadium albeit not for any of the two Kenyan teams taking part in the tournament.

Despite the men’s national sevens team Shujaa and the defending Safari 7s champions Kenya Morans being involved, Injera, who is Kenya’s top try scoring player in history and second on the all time list will be featuring for Samurai Rugby alongside Amonde who announced his retirement from the national team set up after competing in the postponed Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

Samurai Rugby is an invitational teams that blends different players to form up a team. At the Safari 7s, Injera will captain the team.

The outfit operates on a purely invitational basis, usually creating a new squad of coaches and players for each tournament, with a win/loss ratio which is the envy of the sport.

Their squads are usually a mix of professional and amateur players and coaches, but more especially a mix of nationalities with frequently at least five or six countries being represented. According to the team’s website, players do not get paid for playing and being selected to play for Samurai Rugby is seen as an honour, even for professional players.

Joining the duo include Vincent Onyala who has also represented Shujaa on the international scene. Other Kenyans in the squad include Mike Okello, Tony Owuor and Fred Okoth as the 13th player.

Full Samurai Squad.

Collins Injera, Andrew Amonde, Paul Eti Slater, Robbie Kent, Lloyd Lewis, Jacquin Moses, Khanya Ncusane, Mike Okello, Vincent Onyala, Tony Owuor, Freddie Rodick, Thinus Van Zyl, Fred Okoth.