Listen to This Article Enhance your reading experience by listening to this article.

Men’s National Rugby Sevens team head coach Damian McGrath has named a 13-man squad for the 2022 Commonwealth Games set for Birmingham, United Kingdom between July 28 to August 8.

The squad is headlined by the return of 32-year-old Willy Ambaka who returns  to the team after his contract with St Petersburg side Narvskaya Zastava in Russia came to an end.

Also back in the national team is Vincent Onyala.

Commenting on the five-week residential camp that concluded yesterday at the Moi Kasarani Stadium, McGrath said he was firmly focused on upsetting rivals in group D of the competition where Kenya plays Jamaica, neighbours Uganda and Australia.

“The boys are in a good shape currently; we have been working well with the strength and conditioning coach Geoffrey Kimani over the past few weeks, to ensure that they are ready for the key assignment. Kenya is a team to be feared and we expect to swiftly make it out of the pool and reach the knockout stages,” coach McGrath said. Kenya and Uganda are expected to set up a another ‘Migingo derby’ miles away, where Kenya will be seeking revenge against their neighbour who stunned them to reclaim the Africa sevens cup  title on their home soil. Australia on the other end knocked out Kenya in the 2018 edition during the classification semi-finals while in the recent sevens series, the Aussies nailed Kenya 42-0 in one of the legs this year on January 28.

The team that is optimistic of a podium finish at the Coventry stadium in Birmingham, England, will be skippered by Nelson Oyoo who headlines a seniors trio that graced the 2018 Commonwealth games in Gold Coast, Australia. Willy Amabaka and Billy Odhiambo are the other two players who helped Kenya finish second behind New Zealand in the previous edition. 

The other players who make up the 13-man squad include Kenya Simbas speed-star Vincent Onyala who just landed a recall in the side, joining from the Rugby 15s world cup qualifier, Alvin ‘Buffa’  Otieno, Herman Humwa, Bush Mwale, Kevin Wekesa, Tony Omondi, Johnstone Olindi, Edmond Anya, Daniel Taabu and Levi Amunga.