Fijians, Ugandans invade Kenyan rugby scene

 International rugby players from Uganda, Fiji and Cameroon cross the border to have a taste of the local game

The magnet of Kenyan rugby is attracting dozens of foreign players from as far as Fiji.

Their impact is already being felt in the local rugby league.

One club that has benefited from the influx of foreign players is Kabras Sugar Rugby Club, that made history on May 7, 2016 after becoming the first club from Western Kenya to lift the Kenya Cup, the country's top-tier rugby crown.

Kabras - the second club outside Nairobi to win the coveted cup after Nakuru RFC - beat Impala Saracens 22-5 in the final, a win attributed to foreign players in its fold.

Out of the more than 12 foreign players who featured in the Kenya Cup, nine turned up for Kabras - the other three play for Nairobi rugby giants, Kenya Harlequins Rugby Club.

Out of the nine foreign players at Kabras, four are Ugandans, one is a Cameroonian and the remaining four are Fijians. Harlequins on the other hand have two Ugandans and one Cameroonian.

The four Fijians at Kabras - Jone Kubu, hooker Cava Racigi, fly-half Navuso Jone and flanker Apenisa Natabua - joined the newly-crowned champs at the start of the 2014/2015 season from Samurai Waimanu Naitasiri Rugby Club.

Natabua, 30, was the Samurai captain before moving to Kenya; while Racigi, 24, was an instrumental player, as described by his Fijian coach, Sailosi Naiteqe. Kubu, 21, and Navuso, 22, are the youngest and both dream of representing Fiji in the Sevens series in future.

Kubu scored more than 12 tries and managed 135 points, and walked away with the Man of the Match accolade during the Kenya Cup final.

"The league has been very tough. Impala played well, but our boys were good too and I am very happy for that. It was a very good experience for the young boys. When we return to Fiji, we'll go back with vital experience," says Kubu.

"They have been very good and instrumental to our improved performance since joining the club. They have settled in quite well and get along just fine with the rest of the squad. They are young players with a very a bright future ahead of them. We'll continue to give any good player a chance to play," says the Kabras team manager, Antony Ogot.

Ugandans

Ugandan imports playing for Kabras include Jasper Ochieng, 22, Uhuru Charles, 23, James Odong, 24, and Gerald Shevkambo, 23, signed from Hima Heathens. Kenya Harlequins on the other hand tied down Ronald Musajja from Betway Kobs.

"The guys from Uganda have settled well in our team, even though injuries have kept some of them out of action, but when called upon, they do their best even in the Eric Shirley Shield (ESS)."

Ochieng plays as fly-half and has featured mostly in the ESS side due to injuries. Shevkambo is a centre who, alongside Uhuru (a lock), have constantly featured in the Kenya Cup competitions.

Odong was part of the squad that reached the ESS final, only to lose 19-11 to winners Impala Boks (Impala's team B). He scored two penalties.

Musaja, 26, joined Quins in the middle of the season and announced his arrival with two tries in their 57-16 win over Western Bulls in March. He was part of the Kabras team in the pre and early season, but returned to Uganda where he rejoined Kobs. The back-row, who was named the Most Valuable Player in the CAR Division 1B finals, is currently studying for a master's degree in strategic management at a Kenyan university.

Kelvin Kabuye, 27, is another Ugandan back-row who plays for the Ngong Road club. He was recently called to the Uganda Cranes provisional squad for 2016 assignments, but didn't make the final list. Kabuye, who is half Kenyan, will watch from the stands as Musajja and Odong meet Kenya in the Elgon Cup and Africa Cup after making the final list

Cameroonians

Stephan Ottou, 26, who doubles up as a prop and a lock, has been with Kenya Harlequins for close to seven years. He is currently seeking Kenyan citizenship. Apart from playing for Quins, Ottou is also the head coach of Shamas Rugby Foundation girls' team.

"I have enjoyed every moment of the Kenyan game. The level of the game is high and I believe any player who has taken part in the Kenya Cup can cope with the French league, arguably the most competitive rugby league in the world," says Ottou.

Ottou played for Cameroon's Hope RFC before moving to Kenya. His brother, Ernest Ngong, 30, plays for Kabras.

Kenya Harlequins' Jimmy Munene lauds the three Ugandans for their contribution to this season's run that saw them finish second.

"Musajja has been superb since joining us in the middle of the season. His addition brought fire power to the forwards. With him playing at eighth man, we've also seen depth return to the squad. Kabuye is fantastic. Stephan on the other hand brought the culture of hard work to the club," says Munene.

On the number of foreign players a team should field, Top Fry Nakuru RFC chairman, Ali Ajabri, said that, "The issue of foreign players is new to the Kenya Cup. There are no clear guidelines, but it has raised the standard of the game. We allowed Kabras to filed so many players because they had already signed them." Ajabri added that, "There probably should be a limit to the number of foreign players that a club can field to guarantee fairness. We'll be discussing the issue to chart the best way forward."