Kabras Sugar’s Fiji-born Jone Kubu still dreaming of turning out for Shujaa

© Kabras Sugar.

RUGBY Kabras Sugar’s Fiji-born Jone Kubu still dreaming of turning out for Shujaa

Joel Omotto 08:04 - 07.08.2023

The Kabras flyhalf has already made history by representing his adopted country with Kenya Simbas but he still has ambitions of donning the Kenya Sevens jersey.

Kabras Sugar RFC’s Fiji-born flyhalf Jone Kubu is still dreaming of donning the Kenya Sevens jersey in the near future after making history by turning out for Kenya Simbas (Kenya 15s).

Kubu was selected for the Simbas in 2021 ahead of various test matches and got his big break when he featured for the country at the Rugby Africa Cup that acted as the 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifiers in Marseille, France last June.

Even though Kenya missed out on a ticket after losing to Namibia, it was still a great ride for a player who was born in Fiji and never imagined that he would be turning out for another country.

A Shujaa fan since when he was a child, Kubu landed in Kenya in 2015 as part of the Samurai team for the annual Safari Sevens tournament but never left. 

After impressing at the tournament, he was among a few Fijians who were handed one-year contracts by Kabras Sugar and after the deal ended, the rest left but Kubu stayed.

Kenya became his home and he was embraced by the rugby fraternity. A change in rules by World Rugby opened a door for him to represent his adopted country and he grabbed it with both hands.

As per Article 8:1 of the World Rugby Rules of eligibility; “A Player may only play for the senior fifteen-aside National Representative Team, the next senior fifteen-a-side National Representative Team and the senior National Representative Sevens Team of the Union of the country in which:

"(a) he was born; or (b) one parent or grandparent was born; or (c) he has completed 36 consecutive months of Residence immediately preceding the time of playing”

Having been in Kenya since 2015, the third rule played in Kubu’s favour, allowing then-coach Paul Odera to give him a call. He has never looked back since and after call-ups to Shujaa but not getting opportunities to play, he hopes Lady Luck can smile his way soon.

“I’ve always loved playing sevens so if given a chance I would definitely take it,” he told Pulse Sports.

Kubu, just like everyone else, was hurt to see Shujaa relegated from the World Rugby Sevens Series but he feels they can regain their lost glory if new coach Kevin Wambua gets the necessary support.

“We need to start from scratch then build on from there. Lots of things that we need to rectify and I am sure we will be there in no time,” he added.

“So many coaches have their own strategies and we should trust them, trust the process and work with them.”

Kenya Sevens’ next assignment is the Africa Sevens in Zimbabwe from September 16-17 which will act as the 2024 Paris Olympics qualifiers and with South Africa also in the hunt, Shujaa have their work cut out.

“Sevens these days is really developed, it is not just South Africa. We also have to look at the other teams coming up because they might surprise us. All teams are coming prepared and aiming to play Olympics so it will not be easy,” said Kubu.

Kubu is not just adept at scoring tries, he is also a good kicker and his skillset could be an asset for Shujaa who have been struggling with their conversions since the exit Lavin Asego.