'Been a long 13 years': Retiring Sevens legend Ambaka 'happy' with career
Sevens World Series great Willy Ambaka has played his final match for Kenya, after they were beaten by Tonga at the Sydney Sevens on Sunday.
Ambaka, who has played at the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, and three Sevens World Cups, will go down in history as one of the all-time great Kenyan rugby stars.
Following the major news that Sevens legend Collins Injera was hanging up the boots, Ambaka took to Instagram to share a major announcement of his own.
The 32-year-old revealed to his followers that now was the time to “pull the curtains on my International Rugby 7s journey.”
After more than 55 tournaments and 13 years on the World Series, the Sydney Sevens would be Ambaka’s last time in the famous red jersey.
Kenya didn’t win as many matches as they would’ve liked though, and Ambaka didn’t get close to the swansong that he probably deserved at Allianz Stadium.
Tonga proved too good in the ninth place semi-final on Sunday afternoon; as Ambaka said on Instagram, the result drew the curtains on his decorated career.
After walking off the field for the final time, and thanking the sea of Kenya fans at the North-West corner, Ambaka reflected on his illustrious 13-year career.
“I’m happy with what I’ve done, what I’ve achieved so far in my career,” Ambaka told RugbyPass. “I know this is not the end for me in rugby.
“Sometimes we plan our ways but God guides your steps and I’m just really with everything that has happened in my life so far.
“Right now is just holiday time first of all because it’s been a long 13 years. As you can see I’m already injured in one eye, also so many (other) injuries.
“Right now I’m just enjoying some time with my fiancée and everything and taking one day at a time but I just want to thank God.”
After coming off the field, the Kenyan players – including Ambaka – lined up in front of a vibrant sea of supporters.
These fans have been sensational across all three days, and made sure to thank their star players once again.
The Kenyan players, still tired and fatigued after their thrilling battle with the invitational Tongan side, watched on as the supporters sung and chanted for the players.
“It always feels good to be appreciated,” he added.
“We work so hard away from home with very little but all in all, we just want to say, from the boys and family back home, they always appreciate us and that’s what really matters.
“That keeps us going forward and everything, so we really thank God and we really appreciate every moment that we’ve had so far.”
One of the moments of the weekend though, which may have slipped under the radar, involved Kenya’s tough loss to New Zealand on Day Two.
There was plenty of feeling between the two proud rugby teams out on the field, but there was no shortage of respect off it.
The All Blacks Sevens huddled up alongside the Kenyan players at the start of the North-West tunnel, where captain Sam Dickson presented Ambaka with his own black jersey.
“Obviously Willy and Collins are retiring after this tournament, and we just thought what they’ve done for Kenya rugby and also African rugby and World Rugby and how they’ve represented for almost over 13 years now,” Dickson told RugbyPass.
“Just unbelievable careers and we thought it was just a nice little show of respect for what they’ve done for the game, and hopefully they cherish it.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Should've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
19 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
19 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
19 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
28 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
19 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
90 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
4 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
9 Go to comments