‘I’d love to win HSBC SVNS try-scoring award’ – Kenya’s Patrick Odongo Okong’o

Such is life in Kenyan rugby that when Patrick Odongo Okong’o’s father needed 16 pints of blood and 1.5 million Kenyan Shillings for a life-saving operation, members of the Kenyan government even contributed to his cause. 

This time last year, Odongo Okong’o’s father – a car mechanic in his mid-60s – was diagnosed with a blocked valve in his heart, and surgery was his only option. 

The Kenya Rugby Union moved quickly to help the family of one of their star players and put out a call on social media for blood and financial donations, with 1.5 million Kenyan Shillings required (about GB£9,000, US$11,600, or €10,600.) 

The call was answered from all corners of Kenyan society, from the speedster’s school friends to team-mates at his rugby club, to Kenyan 7s fans, and even Her Excellency the Pastor, Dr Dorcas Rigathi, the Second Lady of Kenya (an official office in the Kenyan government) who donated money.

After this fundraising drive, Odongo Okong’o’s father received the treatment he needed, and, one year on, he is back fixing cars and will soon be allowed to stop taking the medication he has been on since his operation. 

The events of the last year have left Odongo Okong’o indebted to his fellow Kenyans, especially its rugby community. 

“My father is currently doing well again so I was really appreciative,” Odongo Okong’o, whose mother died six months before his father had fallen ill, said. “That is why I am so determined to pay back my community and strive to win.”

His means of paying back the Kenyan rugby community is principally through his try-scoring exploits on the HSBC SVNS Series, where he’s scored 12 tries across the first four legs of his rookie season, putting him fourth in the try-scoring charts, tied with USA’s Lucas Lacamp. 

“It’s a good feeling to be up near the top of the rugby charts right now,” Odongo Okong’o said. “I am working towards getting my first award from World Rugby as the top try scorer on the HSBC SVNS. My determination is leading me to this. I am excited about the player I am becoming.”

Ahead of him in the men’s competition are Fiji’s Joji Nasova out in front on 16 tries, and Argentinian duo Marcos Moneta – on 14 – and Luciano Gonzalez, with 13. Two more players have scored 10 times this season: James Turner of Australia, and Fiji’s Filipe Sauturaga. 

Odongo Okong’o’s obvious asset is speed. Aged 19, he reportedly ran 9.99s for the 100m at the Kenyan national trials. While it’s not known what tailwind he had that day (a tailwind must be less than 2.0 metres per second for a time to be classed as ‘wind legal’ by World Athletics) that time – if it is legal – would make him the fastest man to play the game at an elite level. 

For reference, Carlin Isles – regarded as rugby’s fastest man when he played for the USA between 2012 and 2022 – ran a wind legal time of 10.15s for the 100m in 2016, and a wind assisted time of 10.13s in 2012. 

While Odongo Okong’o is chasing down Gonzalez, Moneta and Nasova in the try charts this season, his personal ambitions don’t stop at try-scoring. Patrick wears Collins Injera’s number 11 jersey because he wants to emulate his idol and become an all-round force in sevens.

“In Kenya a lot of people compare me to him [Injera],” he said. “He is my mentor. I chose to wear number 11 because of him. He encourages me, saying things like, ‘keep doing the athletic work you are doing’. If I have problems I know I can go back to him and ask for advice.”

“Injera started as a winger but became a utility player, able to play anywhere. I want to be able to play in any position at anytime in a match. My ambition is to one day be at the top of the charts of rugby’s best players, like he was.”

With that in mind, Odongo Okong’o has been working just as hard on the defensive side of his game in his rookie season. 

“You can’t win a game without defence, I know that,” he said. “And I really enjoy defence. Against Fiji I actually prefer defending to attacking, because I am afraid of being tackled by Fiji! They are so ruthless and show no mercy.”

Currently ninth in the HSBC SVNS standings, 17 points behind Great Britain, Kenya’s priority for the rest of the season is to avoid relegation from the HSBC SVNS Series. 

There is an outside hope that they could avoid the trials of a play-off altogether by finishing above Great Britain in the rankings – but that remains a very outside bet given their current deficit. 

The more likely path is by finishing in the top four of an eight-team play-off featuring HSBC SVNS rivals Uruguay, USA, and Ireland, and the top four teams from the Challenger Series at the season finale in Los Angeles. 

However, with the talent at their disposal, their growing cohesion as a team, and Odongo Okong’o’s eye for a try, staying on the series is within their grasp. 

Over the remaining three legs of his rookie season Odongo Okong’o also hopes for a speed test against the man who he sees as the (other) quickest player on the circuit: Marcos Moneta. 

In Vancouver, Moneta beat Odongo Okong’o to score in the corner, having had a five-metre angled start on the Kenyan. Odongo Okong’o got to him but couldn’t stop the try being scored. Now he wants a rematch.

“I came close to him in Vancouver, he rounded me from the 22,” he said. “I think he’s one of the fastest players in the series. I want a one-on-one with him over at least 70 metres to see who’s fastest.” 

If the HSBC SVNS gods serve this race up next week, the legendary party in the stands at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens may even hold its collective beer (for about 4.7 seconds).