Kenya Sevens' Vincent Onyala (left) and Nygel Pettersan Amaitsa (right) vie for the ball with Samoa's Vaa Apelu Maliko durng their rugby sevens match of the Paris Olympic Games on July 25, 2024 at the Stade de France, Saint-Denis, France.
Kenya Sevens co-captains Vincent Onyala and Tony Omondi, will miss the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series, starting in Dubai on November 30 over new contracts stalemate.
Onyala, 27, and Omondi, 29, led Kenya Sevens to the Africa Cup victory, Paris Olympic Games qualification, and a return to the World Rugby Series. The duo did not sign new two-year contracts offered by the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) from the 22-player squad.
With SportPesa set to renew its sponsorship with the team with an estimated Sh18 million in match bonuses, contract talks were closed for the two players.
Last Monday, KRU and the players met at the RFUEA ground to review contract terms for the new season.
Nation Sport understands that KRU Secretary-General Ray Olendo and team manager Steve Sewe chaired the meeting where players raised concerns.
“While a couple of things were adjusted, efforts by the players to have salaries reviewed were dismissed,” said a source at the meeting. “They also wanted their salaries to be treated as net, and not gross.”
According to the source, the players were willing to sign contracts with provisions for future renegotiations if new sponsorships emerged.
However, KRU declined to make such commitments, leaving negotiations at a standstill. “Discussions have been ongoing since the Paris Olympics in July, but KRU is firm due to financial constraints,” the source added.
Under previous terms, top-tier players earned Sh150,000 monthly, second-tier players Sh127,000, and third-tier players Sh50,000. Non-contract players received between Sh20,000 and Sh34,000. After winning the Safari Sevens in Machakos on October 13, the players boycotted training to demand better contracts.
KRU chairman Sasha Mutai stated: “We can’t force someone to accept what we offer if it doesn’t suit them. No player is indispensable, and we won’t make promises we can’t keep.”
Mutai emphasised the depth of Kenya’s rugby talent, saying, “When we won the Africa Cup and qualified for the Paris Olympics, it was almost a new side. We have to operate realistically.”
Team manager Steve Sewe noted that 25 players were in training, with 22 receiving two-year performance contracts subject to review after each series leg.
“We can’t blame players for declining contracts—it’s their right, and there’s no bad blood,” Sewe said, acknowledging KRU’s financial challenges.
Without revealing specific offers, Sewe explained that first and second tier players received a 20 per cent salary increase, while third tier players saw a 300 per cent raise. “Many players who joined last season were from the third tier,” he said.
Sewe concluded that contract talks are now over, with the focus shifting to the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series, which features seven legs and concludes in Los Angeles on May 3-4 at Dignity Health Sports Park.
The series involves 12 teams, with the bottom four entering a promotion/relegation event against Challenger Series teams at the end of the season.
