Willy Ambaka

Last updated

Willy Ambaka
Willy Ambaka Rio 2016.jpg
Full nameWilliam Ambaka Ndayara
Date of birth (1990-05-14) 14 May 1990 (age 34)
Place of birth Wundanyi, Kenya
Height1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb; 220 lb)
SchoolLubinu boys
Rugby union career
Position(s) Winger
Senior career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2010–2013, 2015 Kenya Harlequins ()
2013–2014 Lyon 10 (30)
2014–2015 Western Province 9 (0)
2017–2018 Manawatu 5 (5)
Correct as of 16 October 2017
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
2011–2013, 2015–present Kenya Sevens 30 (325)
Correct as of 1 August 2014

William Ambaka Ndayara (born 14 May 1990) is a Kenyan rugby union player, currently playing for the Kenyan national sevens team as well as for Manawatu in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup. He has previously played professionally for French Rugby Pro D2 team, Lyon OU, [1] and the South African Currie Cup side, Western Province. [2] [3] [4] His regular position is winger.

Contents

Early Career and Sevens Rugby

Ambaka started his rugby career for Kenya Harlequins in 2010. Harlequins' strength and conditioning coach, Geoffrey Kimani, recommended Ambaka to the Kenya Sevens head coach, Benjamin Ayimba. He made his debut for the national Kenya Sevens team at the 2011 Hong Kong Sevens tournament, and represented them during the 2011–12 and 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series. Ambaka was chosen as part of the 2012–13 HSBC Sevens World Series Dream Team based on his performance that season. [5] He was one of three nominations for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award in 2013, [6] but lost out to Tim Mikkelson of New Zealand. He also played for the Kenya Sevens at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.

Ambaka was also included in the Kenya national team squad that played in the 2014 Africa Cup competition (which doubled up as a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament), [7] but had to withdraw after suffering an ankle injury. [8]

In 2022, He featured for Kenya at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town. [9] [10]

Lyon

In 2013, Ambaka signed a professional contract with Lyon for the 2013–14 Rugby Pro D2 season, [1] becoming the first Kenyan rugby player to play for a team in the top two divisions in France. [11] He played in ten matches and scored six tries as Lyon won the title and promotion to the Top 14 for 2014–15.

Western Province

On 31 July 2014, South African Currie Cup side Western Province announced that Ambaka would join them ahead of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season. [12] He was signed on the recommendation of Jerome Paarwater, the coach of the Kenya national team and former coach of Western Province.[ citation needed ]

However, shortly after arriving in Cape Town, he suffered an ankle injury and made no appearances for the team during their title-winning season. [13]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Danny Care</span> England international rugby union player

Daniel Stuart Care is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for Premiership Rugby club Harlequins and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya national rugby union team</span>

The Kenya national rugby union team, commonly known as the Simbas, is the country's national team managed by the Kenya Rugby Union. The team plays in red, green, and black jerseys with black or white shorts. The Simbas represent Kenya in the Africa Cup and various other tournaments across the continent. They currently rank 34 in the World Rugby Rankings and fourth in Africa. Kenya is yet to qualify for the Rugby World Cup.

Michael John "Mike" Friday has been the head coach of the United States national rugby sevens team since summer 2014. Friday succeeded the previous coach, Matt Hawkins, following the 2013–14 World Series. On 30 September 2024 USA Rugby announced that Friday would be replaced by Simon Amor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenya national rugby sevens team</span> Rugby team

The Kenya national rugby sevens team competes in the World Rugby Sevens Series, Rugby World Cup Sevens and the Commonwealth Games. Kenya recorded its first tournament win in the World Rugby Sevens Series after beating Fiji at the 2016 Singapore Sevens. Kenya has also been successful in the Rugby World Cup Sevens, reaching the semifinals in 2009 and again in 2013.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nick Easter</span> England international rugby union player

Nicholas James Easter is an English rugby union coach and former player. He played as a Number 8 for Orrell, Harlequins and the England national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Simpson (rugby union, born 1988)</span> Rugby player

Joe Simpson is a rugby union player who plays scrum half who plays for Sale Sharks in the Premiership Rugby. He most recently played for Gloucester, between 2006 and 2019 he played 230 times for Wasps, in 2011 he played one international for England and was named in the 2011 Rugby World Cup squad. He has also represented Team GB in rugby sevens.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Collins Injera</span> Rugby player

Collins Injera is a former Kenyan rugby player. He holds third place for the number of tries scored on the World Rugby Sevens Series with 279. He is known for his achievements with Kenyan national rugby sevens team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Ebersohn</span> Rugby player

Robert Thompson Ebersohn is a rugby union and Sevens professional player from South Africa. He has played for the Springboks Sevens, South Africa Under 20 and made his Super 14 debut for the Cheetahs in 2010. When participating in the 15-man format of rugby, his preferred position is centre although he has been employed as a fullback on various occasions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nizaam Carr</span> South African rugby union footballer

Nizaam Carr is a South African rugby union footballer who plays as a back rower. He is renowned for his athleticism and linking play.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renaldo Bothma</span> South African-born Namibian rugby union player (born 1989)

Renaldo Bothma is a South African-born Namibian former rugby union footballer. He played mostly as a flanker. Formerly, he represented the Bulls in Super Rugby and the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup, the Golden Lions, Leopards, Sharks and Pumas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rosko Specman</span> South African rugby union player

Rosko Shane Specman is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby, the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup and the Blue Bulls XV in the Rugby Challenge. He played rugby sevens for the South Africa national rugby sevens team between 2014 and 2018 and also played Currie Cup rugby with the Sharks from 2010 to 2012, the Pumas from 2013 to 2015 and the Free State Cheetahs in 2017. His usual position is winger.

Justin Gilberto Geduld is a South African rugby union player, currently contracted to SARU as a sevens rugby player, as well as playing domestic rugby union for Western Province. His regular position is centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jacques du Plessis</span> South African rugby union player

Willem Hendrik Jacques "Sheep" du Plessis is a South African rugby union player. He plays for the Bulls in the United Rugby Championship and for the Blue Bulls in the Currie Cup. His regular playing positions are flanker or lock.

Travis Keenan Ismaiel is a South African rugby union player for the Bulls in Super Rugby. His regular position is winger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tim Swiel</span> English-born South African rugby union player (born 1993)

Timothy Gregory Swiel is an English-born South African rugby union player. His regular position is fly-half.

Belgium Tuatagaloa is a rugby union player who has represented the New Zealand Sevens team, in 2012 and 2013, and Samoa in sevens 2015-2017 and in fifteens from 2019. Born in Auckland, New Zealand, he qualifies for Samoa through heritage. He has played for Canterbury in the ITM Cup and for Valence Romans Rugby in France's Fédérale 1, the third division. He currently plays for Rouen in the Pro D2. He has also played for London Irish and in 2022 played for Racing 92 in the Supersevens Tournament where he was named in the tournament team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kyle Sinckler</span> British Lions & England international rugby union player

Kyle Norval Jonathan Sean Sinckler is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Toulon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tjiuee Uanivi</span> Rugby player

Tjiuee Uanivi is a Namibian rugby union player that normally plays as a lock or flanker. He currently plays for US Montauban in the ProD2.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Irné Herbst</span> Rugby player (born 1993)

Irné Philip Herbst is a South African rugby union player, currently playing with English team Harlequins in the Premiership Rugby. His regular position is lock.

Brian Tanga is a Kenyan rugby union player, currently playing for the Simbas in the 2022 Currie Cup First Division. His preferred position is scrum-half or wing.

References

  1. 1 2 "Ambaka turns professional". SportOn!. 16 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  2. ↑ "SA Rugby Player Profile – Willy Ambaka". South African Rugby Union. Retrieved 29 May 2016.
  3. ↑ "It's Rugby Player Profile Willy Ambaka". It's Rugby. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Scoresway Player Profile Willy Ambaka". Scoresway. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  5. ↑ "Seven make new World Series Dream Team". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 7 June 2013. Retrieved 26 January 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ↑ "Ambaka shortlisted for IRB Men's Sevens Player of the Year" (Press release). Kenya RFU. 20 June 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Back with a mission: France-based Ambaka joins 15s side for World Cup qualifier in Madagascar". Standard Digital. 22 May 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "TREU NAMES SQUAD: Coach blends experience with youth for Commonwealth". Standard Digital. 12 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  9. ↑ Collins, Amanga (2 September 2022). "Kenya Sevens squad for 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens". www.pd.co.ke. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  10. ↑ Njuguna, William (3 September 2022). "Injera recalled to Shujaa squad ahead of Rugby World Cup Sevens". The Star. Retrieved 17 September 2022.
  11. ↑ "Ambaka makes history as he joins Lyon". Kenya Page. 19 August 2013. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Wing Ambaka Ndayara to join WP Rugby" (Press release). Western Province. 31 July 2014. Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Ankle injury grounds WP flyer". Sport24. 1 September 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.