Kenya’s Collins Injera has introduced his retirement from rugby following an illustrious profession by which he represented his nation in each sevens and 15s.
Injera made his Test debut towards Uganda in August 2006 and was most just lately concerned within the Simbas’ Rugby Africa Cup 2022 marketing campaign in France final July.
However, it’s within the shorter format of the sport that Injera will likely be most fondly remembered.
Injera, 36, made his World Rugby Sevens Series debut in Hong Kong in March 2007 and went on to make 424 appearances throughout 15 years. In whole, he scored 279 tries (second solely to England and Great Britain veteran Dan Norton) and 1,443 factors on the circuit.
Across his decade and a half on the sevens circuit, he performed in 83 tournaments, probably the most by a Kenyan participant and seventh highest general. After scoring his two hundredth Sevens Series strive, at Twickenham in 2015, Injera produced a marker pen from his sock and signed the match ball and tv digicam.
Injera additionally appeared at two Olympic Games and 4 Rugby World Cup Sevens. Arguably his biggest second in a Kenya sevens jersey got here at RWC Sevens 2009 in Dubai, the place he crossed the whitewash 5 instances to assist the Shujaa Sevens into the semi-finals.
Following that event, Injera was nominated alongside his brother Humphrey ‘Tall’ Kayange for World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year in 2009.
Injera, enjoying with Kayange, additionally scored two tries within the Cup ultimate as Kenya beat Fiji 30-7 to win their solely title so far on the World Rugby Sevens Series in Singapore in 2016.
It was maybe becoming that his ultimate look for Kenya got here at RWC Sevens 2022, in Cape Town final September, serving to the Shujaa to twelfth place.
IN HIS OWN WORDS: INJERA EXPLAINS RETIREMENT DECISION
In an announcement launched on all his social media platforms on Tuesday, Injera introduced his retirement, saying his physique advised him it was time to name it quits.
“Everything must come to an end, sometime. I have always said that I will know it’s time, because my body will tell me.”
“And for the previous few months it has actually ‘spoken’ to me so, lastly, I’ve determined to take heed to it. As exhausting as that is for me, after 17 years of literal blood, sweat and tears, it’s time to step away from this nice sport that has given me a lot greater than I may ever ask for.
“Thank you, Lord, for giving me the power, alternatives, and safety to have the ability to play the sport I actually love for this lengthy.
“To my spouse Chebet and my youngsters; Chloe, Clyde, and Carl, thanks very a lot for all of the love, help and understanding you’ve given me all these years. Those days, weeks, and generally months that you’ve got endured with out my presence as I used to be busy chasing my dream throughout the globe are lastly over.
“It’s now time for me to spend a lot wanted high quality time with you. Thank you, mum, dad and Linda, for all of the prayers, recommendation and help. My brothers, Tall [Humphrey] and Mike, we did it! We managed to play collectively each regionally and internationally.
“To all my team-mates, coaches, management and opponents, thank you all for the memories we have created both on and off the field. We have shared some very high and low moments together. Thank you for being part of my journey and helping me achieve my dreams.”
“To the fans, media and sponsors, thank you all for the support throughout my career,” he concluded. “I hope I made you all proud.”
Injera, who performed worldwide rugby with his youthful brother Michael Agevi in addition to their older sibling Kayange, mentioned he would proceed with his humanitarian work as he heads into retirement.
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