LEST YOU FORGET... Highs and lows in Kenya rugby scene in 2016

Kenya's team celebrate with the trophy after defeating Fiji in the cup final at the Singapore Sevens rugby tournament on April 17, 2016. / AFP PHOTO / ROSLAN RAHMAN

The 2015/16 season was like no other for Kenyan rugby.

This is the year that saw the rise of heroes, who gave rugby its unforgettable moments.

It would be fair to say the season has been a roller-coaster for the Kenya Sevens team after they pulled off a shocking 30-7 victory over Fiji in Singapore, to clinch their first IRB World Sevens Series trophy.

The national team was outstanding throughout the season as they qualified for seven of 10 Main Cup quarter finals, and their ranking in the World Series moved from 13th to seventh.

It was indeed, an improved performance by Kenya's players, who garnered 98 points, one short of their best ever show during the 2012/13 season.

But it is Benjamin Ayimba’s re-appointment as Kenya Sevens head coach following the departure of Felix Ochieng last year that turned around the team’s fortunes after a difficult 2014/2015 season. For most of the period, they were flirting with relegation.

However, his second stint with the team ended on a relatively sour note after a disappointing outing in Rio Olympic Games, where Kenya finished 11th. There was little redemption as he guided the side to reclaim the Safari Sevens title in September.

Ayimba, who was succeeded by his former captain Innocent ‘Namcos’ Simiyu, will take pride in his exploits that included guiding Kenya to the Olympic Games and winning Singapore Sevens. He has left a legacy of introducing youngsters on the Sevens rugby scene.

Kenya had a new face in each of the 10 legs last season. They are Robert Aringo, Samuel Oliech, Samuel Motari (Impala), Nelson Oyoo, Donald Aluoch (Nakuru), Jeffrey Oluoch, Alvin Otieno (Homeboyz), Frank Wanyama (Harlequin) and Alex Olaba (Strathmore).

However, the highlight of the season was when Mwamba star Collins Injera became world’s all-time top try scorer (231) after scoring an unconverted try against France in London. With that feat, he surpassed the 230-try mark held by Argentina’s Santiago Gomez Cora.

This achievement earned him a nomination in the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

“I think it’s a great deed. For a player to reach there, is an amazing thing that shows how far we have come as a team and also, an individual,” Injera said after breaking the record.

“When I started this journey in 2007, I said that I would love to be a top scorer in the world. It felt like a dream then, but I am happy I made it happen,” Injera added.

Injera missed opening two legs of the 2016/2017 season.

For the Kenya Simbas, it was a season of mixed results. They failed to reclaim the CAR Africa Cup Division1A title after losing 56-21 away to champions Namibia in July.

But the national 15s team responded quickly to maul Uganda Rugby Cranes 45-24 (93-34 on aggregate) and reclaim the Elgon Cup in the return leg-cum-Rugby Africa Division 1A clash at RFUEA Grounds.

The Jerome Paarwater’s side then rose to 22nd, their best placing in the World Rugby ranking, after their resounding 34-10 victory over visiting Hong Kong Dragons in August. In November, they went one place down in the ranking.

The Simbas began the season by thrashing Uganda 48-10 in the first leg of Elgon Cup in June and then silenced Brazil 18-17 in an international test match on June 17.

Just like the men’s team, Kenya Lionesses (women’s Sevens rugby team) exited the 2016 Olympics Games with only one win.

The Lionesses mauled Colombia 22-10 in a dead rubber match after losing to New Zealand (52-0), France (40-7) and Spain (19-10) in their opening three matches.

On the local scene, Kabras Sugar bagged their first Kenya Cup title after defeating Impala RFC in the 2015/2016 League final on May 7, in Nairobi. It was also a historic year for Homeboyz RFC after they won their maiden National Sevens Series title.

On the sponsorship front, shirt deal between the Sevens team and Kenya Airways came to an end when the national carrier decided not to renew their contract with Kenya Rugby Union in November.