Collins Injera

Collins Injera
Date of birth October 18, 1986 (1986-10-18) (age 25)
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Weight 80 kg (12 st 8 lb)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Wing
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
-
2006-Present
Kenya 15s
Kenya 7s

Collins Injera (born October 18, 1986) is a rugby player from Kenya. He is known for his achievements with Kenyan national rugby sevens team.

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 was also nominated for the IRB's sevens player of the year award,[7] which was eventually won by Ollie Phillips of England.[8] Injera won the Kenyan Sportsman of the Year award in 2009.[9]

Injera has also played for the Kenya national rugby union team (15s), playing at the 2011 World Cup Qualifiers.[10] His older brother Humphrey Kayange is captain of the Kenyan sevens squad. Their younger brother Michael Agevi plays rugby for Kakamega High School [3] Injera has a degree in mass communication from Kenya College for Communication Technology (KCCT).[1]

In 2010, Injera was awarded the presidential Order of Golden Warriors (OGW) alongside his brother Humphrey Kayange for their performance in the 2008/2009 IRB world series.[11]

References

  1. ^ a b Daily Nation, Buzz Magazine, January 16, 2009: Top of the top
  2. ^ Rugbyrugby.com, March 3, 2009: Mwamba's pride
  3. ^ a b Daily Nation, January 15, 2009: Injera aims to conquer all in IRB series
  4. ^ RWC Sevens 2009: Kenya squad
  5. ^ "Season Player Tries". International Rugby Board. http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/statistics/triesdetails.html. Retrieved 2008-12-07. 
  6. ^ "Season Player Points". International Rugby Board. http://www.irb.com/irbsevens/statistics/pointdetails.html. Retrieved 2008-12-07. 
  7. ^ IRB, May 29, 2009: IRB names Sevens Player of the Year shortlist
  8. ^ IRB, June 1, 2009 :Ollie Phillips IRB Sevens Player of the Year
  9. ^ The Standard, December 12, 2009: Masai, the year’s best
  10. ^ Heavensgame.com: KENYA BEAT CAMEROON IN RWC QUALIFIER
  11. ^ Daily Nation, May 27, 2010: Sevens stars decorated by state</