Fijian-born Jone Kubu set for Shujaa debut as Vancouver Sevens squad announced
Fijian-born Jone Kubu is set to make his debut for Shujaa at the Vancouver Sevens, joining a youthful and experienced squad. The 12-man team, announced for the tournament in Canada from February 21-23, also includes 18-year-old Jackson Siketi. Kubu and Siketi replace Benson Salem and Festus Shiasi, bringing a dynamic mix to Kenya’s Sevens squad as they face tough competition in Pool A.
Fijian-born rugby player Jone Kubu is set to make his highly anticipated debut for Shujaa after being named in the 12-man Kenya Sevens squad for the Vancouver Sevens, taking place in Canada from February 21-23.
The inclusion of the Kabras Sugar halfback comes after days of speculation, as the 36-year-old has been training with the Kenya Sevens team ahead of the squad announcement.
Kubu first arrived in Kenya in 2015 with the Samurai Rugby team for the Safari Sevens. After the competition, he settled in Kenya, joining Kabras Sugar, where he won four Kenya Cup titles. His standout performances at Kabras Sugar earned him a call-up to the Kenya XVs in 2021, where he came close to securing a spot in the 2023 Rugby World Cup, reaching the final of the qualifiers.
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Joining Kubu in making his debut for Kenya Sevens is Kabras Sugar teammate, 18-year-old Jackson Siketi, a fullback for the Kenya U20 team.
Kubu and Siketi are the two new faces in the squad, replacing Benson Salem and Festus Shiasi from the squad that competed at the Perth Sevens in January. The duo reflects a mix of youth and experience, a theme reinforced by the Shujaa squad’s leadership.
The team will be captained by 24-year-old George Ooro of Strathmore Leos, with KCB’s 25-year-old scrum-half Samuel Asati continuing in his role as vice-captain.
Kubu’s addition bolsters an already experienced squad featuring Antony Omondi, Brian Tanga, and Vincent Onyala, the only other players over 28 who have each played over 100 matches and scored over 150 points in the World Rugby Sevens Series.
The rest of the squad maintains a youthful profile, with Ooro, Asati, and Siketi being joined by Denis Abukuse (25), Kevin Wekesa (24), Nygel Amaitsa (22), Patrick Odongo (22), and William Mkanji (25).
Kenya has been placed in Pool A at the Vancouver Sevens, where they will face tough competition from Perth Sevens champions Argentina, Cape Town Sevens finalists France, and Great Britain, who are ranked just above Kenya in 8th place.
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