Collins Injera

Collins Injera (born 18 October 1986) is a Kenyan rugby player. He holds the second place for number of tries scored on the World Rugby Sevens Series with 271. He is known for his achievements with Kenyan national rugby sevens team.

Collins Injera
Date of birth (1986-10-18) October 18, 1986
Place of birthNairobi, Kenya
Height186 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight96 kg (15 st 2 lb; 212 lb)
SchoolVihiga High School
UniversityDaystar University
Notable relative(s)Humphrey Kayange,
Michael Agevi
Rugby union career
Position(s) Utility Back
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
Mwamba Rugby Club ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
2006–present Kenya 1
National sevens team(s)
Years Team Comps
2006–present Kenya

Career

Injera started playing rugby while at Vihiga High School in Vihiga. After graduation in 2005 he joined military team Ulinzi RFC playing in the Kenya Cup league. The team was later disbanded, and he moved to Mwamba RFC, a Nairobi-based team where he plays as a wing.[1][2]

Now a strong player for the Kenyan Sevens squad, Injera debuted with the team at the 2006 Dubai Sevens[3] and played in the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens,[4] where Kenya reached the semifinals. He became the top try scorer for 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series season with 42 tries.[5] He also scored 210 points and finished second behind Ben Gollings of England in the individual points table.[6]

Injera has also played for the Kenya national rugby union team (15s) at his usual position left wing (number 11), playing at the 2011 World Cup Qualifiers.[7]

In February 2013, Injera was dropped from the Kenya national sevens team and his contract was cancelled by the head coach Mike Friday. This was because of a conflict between Injera's club Mwamba RFC and the Kenya national sevens team. This conflict led to Injera missing training sessions with the Kenya national sevens team and therefore breaching his contract. As a consequence of this breach, Injera's contract was cancelled.[8]

Awards

Injera was nominated for the 2008–09 IRB Sevens Player of the Year award,[9] which was eventually won by Ollie Phillips (rugby union) Injera won the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award in 2009.[10] In 2010, Injera was awarded the presidential Order of Golden Warriors (OGW) alongside his brother Humphrey Kayange for their performance in the 2008–09 IRB Sevens World Series.[11] Collins Injera was named Player of the final in 2016 Singapore Sevens, after helped Kenya to win their first tournament in World Sevens Series.[12]

Personal

Injera's older brother Humphrey Kayange is a former captain of the Kenyan sevens squad. Their younger brother Michael Agevi has also played rugby for the Sevens team in the past.[13]

Injera has a degree in mass communication from Kenya College for Communication Technology (KCCT).[1]

He is an alumnus of Daystar University.[14]

References
  1. Daily Nation, Buzz Magazine, January 16, 2009: Top of the top
  2. Rugbyrugby.com, March 3, 2009: Mwamba's pride Archived 2012-02-22 at the Wayback Machine
  3. Daily Nation, January 15, 2009: Injera aims to conquer all in IRB series
  4. RWC Sevens 2009: Kenya squad Archived 2011-05-27 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "Season Player Tries". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 2008-04-09. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  6. "Season Player Points". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 2010-02-11. Retrieved 2008-12-07.
  7. Heavensgame.com: KENYA BEAT CAMEROON IN RWC QUALIFIER
  8. Daily Nation, February 28, 2013:Sevens coach Friday says Injera’s contract still remains cancelled
  9. IRB, May 29, 2009: IRB names Sevens Player of the Year shortlist Archived 2009-06-01 at the Wayback Machine
  10. The Standard, December 12, 2009: Masai, the year’s best Archived July 16, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  11. Daily Nation, May 27, 2010: Sevens stars decorated by state
  12. World Rugby, April 17, 2016: Collins Injera shines to win final award
  13. "Fresh faces for Kenya Sevens". International Rugby Board. 26 September 2011. Archived from the original on 22 December 2011. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  14. Komen, Jonathan (2018-06-03). "Rugby blood runs deep in their families: Family members that dot rugby scene". The Standard. Retrieved 2019-08-21.
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