KRU praise Shujaa sensation Patrick Odongo set to feature in inagural Rugby Premier League

Shujaa's Patrick Odongo will feature in he inagural Rugby Premier League in June. Photo: World Rugby

KRU praise Shujaa sensation Patrick Odongo set to feature in inagural Rugby Premier League

Mark Kinyanjui 14:23 - 09.04.2025

Patrick Odongo is set to take part in the inagural Rugby Premier League set to take place in June in India following a dominant first-season in the HSBC SVNS series for Shujaa.

Kenya Sevens speedster Patrick Odongo is set to feature in the inaugural Rugby Premier League (RPL) in India, with the high-octane tournament scheduled to run from 1st to 15th June 2025 in Mumbai.

Odongo, one of Shujaa’s standout performers in recent seasons, will line up for Delhi Redz, one of six franchise teams that will contest the new-look RPL. 

Matches will be held at the Brihanmumbai Kreeda Ani Lalitkala Prarthisthan Andheri Sports Complex, popularly known as the Mumbai Football Arena (MFA).

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The RPL has set its sights on attracting elite international talent, with 30 marquee players drawn from Rugby Sevens giants including New Zealand, Fiji, South Africa, Kenya, Argentina, Great Britain, USA, Australia, Spain, and Ireland.

Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) CEO was full of praise for Odongo’s selection, calling it a deserved reward for his consistency and impact on the global stage.

“It is an honour and a privilege to have one of our own selected for this event, and perhaps no one deserves it more than Patrick,” the CEO said as quoted on KRU.

“He has been consistent over the past two seasons in the Challenger Series, the HSBC Sevens, and for his club Daystar University.

“ It is a true testimony that hard work pays off, and we’re very proud of his selection and recognition as one of the best finishers in the game. We wish him well and will be glued to our screens to cheer him on.”

Odongo will be under the guidance of New Zealand Sevens legend Tomasi Cama, who will coach the Delhi Redz side.

 He will team up with fellow stars such as Ireland’s Jordan Conroy, Argentina’s Matteo Grazziano, and Spain’s Alejandro Laforga.

Who is Patrick Odongo?

KRU praise Shujaa sensation Patrick Odongo set to feature in inagural Rugby Premier League
Photo© Patrick Odongo at the 2024 Paris Olympics

Patrick Odongo became a household name overnight in Kenyan rugby circles following his heroics in September 2023, where he was named most valuable player in Harare as Kenya’s Shujaa  won the Africa Sevens Cup to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

He went on to have a brilliant Safari Sevens tournament, before wowing people even better with his performances in the 2023/2024 Challenger Series where Kenya won back promotion to the HSBC SVNS athe first time of asking.

During the first leg in Dubai, he scored 11 tries to help Kenya get their campaign to get back to the World Series off to a flier.

Injuries then curtailed the rest of his season, although he helped Kenya achieve a ninth place finish at the Paris Olympic games. 

He took his form onto the HSBC SVNS, and after seven tournaments, he has netted 14 tries, which puts him near the top of the leaderboards ahead of the Grand Final in Los Angeles

The Delhi Redz Squad

Matias Osadczuk (Argentina) Matteo Grazziano (Argentina) Alejandro Laforga (Spain) Patrick Odongo (Kenya), Jordan Conroy (Ireland),  Jordan Conroy (Ireland) Thomas Richards (Canada) Michael Coverdale (Hong Kong) Moritz Noll (Germany) Rajdeep Saha (West Bengal) Deepak Kumar Punia (Haryana) Mohit (Haryana) Sunil Chawan (Maharashtra) Raj Kumar (Rajasthan)

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