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Kenyan rugby star Odongo chases milestone in Las Vegas Sevens
Kenya's Patrick Odongo runs clear for the try line during the Cape Town Sevens group match against Spain at Cape Town Stadium, South Africa on December 7, 2024.
What you need to know:
- With 20 tries to his name this season, Odongo, 23, sits third in the top try scorers’ list.
- His impressive tally puts him in strong contention for the season’s top try scorer’s gong.
Winger Patrick Odongo hopes to kill two birds with one stone with Kenya in the final leg of 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens season in Los Angeles this weekend.
First, the 23-year-old will be fighting to help Kenya Sevens retain its status as one of the top teams in the World Rugby Sevens Series, the annual series of international rugby sevens tournaments run by World Rugby, under a new format announced for Los Angeles Sevens.
Secondly, the Kenya Sevens winger, who is lying third in the try-scoring chart in the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens series, will be hoping to become the leading try scorer in the series this season.
With 20 tries to his name this season, the 23-year-old Kenyan speedster sits third in the top try scorers’ list, trailing only Fijian Joji Nasova (24 tries) and Argentinian Marcos Moneta (23). His impressive tally puts him in strong contention for the season’s top try scorer’s gong.
But he will not be walking the unbeaten path. Kenyan speedster Collins Injera who has since retired from playing, is the only Kenyan to have led in the top try scorers’ chart in a single World Rugby Sevens season, having scored 42 tries during the 2008/2009 season.
Injera now ranks third on the all-time World Rugby Sevens Series list behind Dan Norton (358) and Perry Baker (293).
This weekend, Odongo will be aiming to take a step closer to that performance when Kenya plays Samoa on Saturday in their first match in Pool ‘A’ before squaring it out with Portugal on Sunday, and later in the day with home team and hosts USA.
Odongo is fast becoming the face of resurgence of the Kenya Sevens team. His journey to stardom began in the aftermath of Kenya's relegation from the Series in 2023, a period that saw senior players like Nelson Oyoo, Alvin Otieno, and Johnstone Olindi exit the national team.
With Kenya’s future uncertain, Odongo emerged as a game-changer. His seven-try haul, including two in the final against South Africa, was key to Kenya’s victory at the 2023 Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Zimbabwe, securing the team’s qualification for the second-tier Challenger Series, and a place at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.
Last year, Odongo helped Shujaa finish second in the Challenger Series regular season behind Uruguay, edging out Chile and Germany. The top four teams advanced to the Grand Final in Madrid, where Kenya secured promotion to the 2024/2025 World Rugby Sevens Series alongside Uruguay, Spain, and the USA.
Born on March 20, 2002, Odongo has mirrored the traits of his idol Injera -electrifying pace, clinical finishing, and a relentless work ethic. He was part of Kenya’s squad that competed at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and is currently studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Community Development at Daystar University, which he joined in September 2022 on a sports scholarship.
His exceptional performances have earned him accolades off the pitch. He was named LG/SJAK Sports Personality of the Month twice - first in September 2023, and in January 2024 -and was nominated for the 2023 Sports Personality of the Year Awards (Soya). He was up against sporting giants like the late marathon world record holder Kelvin Kiptum, Olympics 800 metres champion Emmanuel Wanyonyi, and volleyball star Simon Korir.
Despite his sporting highs, Odongo has faced personal trials. He lost his mother, Sophia Atieno, just before the 2023 Africa Men’s Sevens tournament. Earlier last year, he made a passionate appeal for funds and blood donation for his father, Joanes Okong’o, who was hospitalized for corrective heart surgery. Still, Odongo has remained focused and resilient.
In October 2024, he helped Shujaa win the Safari Sevens tournament, reinforcing his status as a vital member of the team.
From humble beginnings to global stardom, Odongo represents the next generation of Kenyan rugby greatness. He is resilient, talented, and determined to carry the nation’s flag to even greater heights.
Meanwhile, World Rugby has changed the World Rugby Sevens Series format as the 2024/2025 season ends in Los Angeles, United States of America this weekend.
On Thursday, World Rugby said that a new model will come into force during the 2025/2026 season, and will feature three divisions, making the Los Angeles Sevens a mere formality. As per the new rules, Shujaa and Kenya Lionesses will play in the relegation/promotion play-off in Los Angeles Sevens, but they will still miss out on places among the core teams in 2026.
The top eight teams in the 2024/2025 World Sevens Series that are taking part in men’s and women’s championship in Los Angeles will now make Division One in the new World Rugby Sevens Series set-up for 2026. The teams will play in six tournaments making the 2026 World Rugby Sevens series.
However, Shujaa and Lionesses must finish in the top four of the play-offs in Las vegas to secure slots in the 2026 World Rugby Sevens Division Two category. The Division Two for both men and women will involve six teams each, competing in three tournaments. The Division Three will be a stand-alone Challenger event, with eight teams per gender, qualifying from regional competitions.
Pool ‘B’ of Los Angeles Sevens has Uruguay, Ireland, Germany and Canada.