Kabras RFC fullback Jones Kubu during their captains run session at Kakamega Showground on March 10, 2023 on the eve of their Kenya Cup final match against KCB.
When you think Fiji, the first thing that comes to mind is rugby, specifically sevens rugby. The Fiji national rugby team’s flair in sevens rugby is legendary.
It’s no wonder that when rugby made a return to the Olympic Games for the first time since 1924, it’s Fiji who claimed the historic title at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and then defended that title at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Games.
When Fijian-born Jone Kubu landed in the country for the first time in 2014 with Samurai International for the Safari Sevens, he never thought he would one day play for Kenya.
Kubu return to Kenya in 2015 to join Kabras Sugar Rugby Club guiding them to Kenya Cup victory in 2016, as the club made history as the first side to win the national championship from Western Kenya.
Then the “Fijian magician” as he is now known in the local circles would fall in love with the country. He subsequently gained citizenship and, as expected, played for Kenya Simbas in 2021.
Kubu went on to feature at the Rugby Africa Cup that acted as the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Marseille, France last June 2022.
His heart was also with sevens rugby. Injuries among other personal issues saw his dream of featuring for Kenya Sevens delayed, until now.
Shujaa head coach Kevin “Bling” Wambua selected him in his squad for the fourth leg of the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series in Vancouver scheduled for February 21 to 23 at the BC Place.
Albeit with mixed emotions, Kubu is relishing coming up against his former countrymen, who are four-time world sevens series and three-time world sevens champion.
“Playing against Fiji will be one of the most memorable encounters in my playing career,” said Kubu.
“They always tell me that it doesn’t matter who you are playing for or against so long as you enjoy the game and give it your best shot,” said the 36-year-old Kubu.
Kubu acknowledged that transitioning from 15s to sevens is quite tough but said that he has been working well with the rest of the team for the last two weeks and he is loving the atmosphere.
“It’s a feeling of mixed emotions for me right now, some for personal reasons. I never thought of representing Kenya when I first landed in the country but here I am and I am grateful to God for this talent,” said Kubu.
He said that the team is slowly learning the ropes and growing stronger with every match. “We have been working on our set-pieces and defence. We are ready to put up a good show in Vancouver.”
Wambua described Kubu as an intelligent player who has a lot to offer in the team’s attacking framework.
“He is a tactical kicker, good in defence and decision making, and an all-rounder with a lot of experience,” said Wambua.
Wambua said they had lost a couple of matches in the last minutes but now have someone who can make the difference.
“We are happy for him making the team, having been on-and-off,” said Wambua.
Also in Wambua’s team is the newcomer Jackson Siketi, 18, who plays fullback for Kabras.
The rest of the players are George Ooro (co-captain), Samuel Asati (co-captain), Kevin Wekesa, Vincent Onyala, Dennis Abukuse, William Mwanji, Antony Omondi, Brian Tanga, Nygel Amaitsa, Patrick Odongo, Floyd Wabwire.
