'I feared it might be the end of my career': Kenya's Tanga returns from neck injury

Just a few months ago the notion of playing for Kenya at HSBC SVNS 2 seemed distant for Brian Tanga.

The Kenya scrum-half battled through a career-threatening neck injury to join the Shujaa squad this weekend for their home tournament in Nairobi.

While playing in the Dala 7s tournament for Kabras last September, the neck injury left the 30-year-old with his balance and vision affected, and wondering if he would get ever get back on the pitch.

“I suffered an injury during the 2025 Dala 7s while playing against Nakuru RFC in the quarterfinal,” Tanga told Mozzart Sport. “I hurt my neck, which affected my balance and vision, but now I’m feeling much better.

“The healing journey hasn’t been easy. I’ve visited many neurosurgeons, and while their efforts have brought me to this point, it has certainly been a challenging process.

“At first, I feared it might be the end of my playing career, but thank God I’m still here. I’ve been training for the past two months, and the progress, both mentally and emotionally, has been incredible, thanks to my teammates and coaches.”

Nearly six months on from sustaining the injury, Tanga has been named in Kenya’s HSBC SVNS 2 squad.

Playing on home soil, the team will contend with Belgium, Canada, Germany, Uruguay and the USA in a round robin competition.

The first of three legs, with further stops in Montevideo and São Paulo to come, a place at the HSBC SVNS World Championship and the opportunity to claim a spot on the HSBC SVNS Series are on offer.

To qualify for the HSBC SVNS World Championship teams must place in the top four of HSBC SVNS 2.

A bright start this weekend could go a long way to securing a spot at the Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux events. For Tanga, he is just happy to be back out there.

“Head injuries are serious,” Tanga said. “If you suffer one, take a break. Don’t rush back into action; your health comes first. Rugby will always be there, but your recovery is the priority.”