Collins Injera's decorated rugby career

Collins Injera recently announced his retirement from his sparkling rugby career.

In a statement released on his social media handles, Kenya's all time try scorer on the World Rugby Sevens Series called time on his career, saying that his body had eventually given in to the pressure.

"Everything must come to an end sometime. I have always said that I will know it's time, because my body will tell me. And for the last months it has really spoken to me, so finally, I have decided to listen to it..." The statement went on, with the back thanking his support system that included his wife, kids, teammates, coaches, and management.

Mozzart Sport takes a look at some of Collins Injera's career highlights, and why he is the G.O.A.T

1. INDUCTION INTO THE RUGBY TOWN WALK OF FAME

Collins Injera was recently inducted into the Rugby Town Walk of Fame alongside Fiji Rugby League Legend Noa Nadruku. He travelled to Fiji with his wife Chebet Limo to unveil his own plaque which honor his career.

2. BREAKING WORLD 7s SERIES TOP TRY SCORER RECORD

Collins Injera will be remembered for scoring for team Kenya against France in London 7s played at the Twickenham Stadium to become the Alltime World 7s series top try scorer with 231 tries.

Although Kenya did not win that match, that day, May 21 2016 went down in history for that special moment.

That performance was done in front of his parents Mr Wilfred and Mrs Dorothy Emonyi. His senior brother and playmate Humprey Kayange passed him the ball to score that breakthrough try.

He had previously scored his 228th try against Portugal in the first match of the tournament, before scoring his 229th and 230th against Scotland.

3. HONG KONG 7'S TOP TRY SCORER

Collins Injera scored four time in the 2019 Hong Kong 7s to become the tournament's all time try scorer with 26 tries. He went to the tournament with 26 tries.

Injera would then hold the record until April 2019 when he was overtaken by Dan Norton who had 32 tries.

Shujaa legend Collins Injera announces retirement from rugby

4. ALL TIME KENYA 7s TOP SCORER

The Mwamba RFC player is the all-time Kenya 7s scorer with the highest points. When he scored his 200th series try at Twickenham Stadium in London, he did that in style.

Injera took a permanent marker out of his sock and signed the ball he scored with, before heading on to sign a camera that's worth more than $94,000.

5. MAKING FIVE STRAIGHT WORLD CUP APPEARANCES

Injera was part of the Simbas squad at the past five World Sevens World Cups, reaching the semi-finals in 2009 and 2013.

This year however, his dream of helping Kenya qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup was cut short after they lost to USA, Portugal and Hong Kong in Dubai.

6. PLAYED THE MOST MATCHES FOR KENYA IN THE WORLD SERIES

According to World 7s series, Injera has played more that 409 matches in series. This number is the highest number of matches played by a Kenya 7s player.

Interestingly, in all those matches played, he has had no red card, and only conceded four yellow cards.

He has recorded more than 398 carries and has the highest points and is the leading scorer, having scored 42 tries in a single season 2008/09 season.

7. ORDER OF THE GOLDEN WARRIOR (OGW)

Collins Injera and his brother Humprey Kayange were awarded with the OGW award in May 2010. These rewards followed their 2008/09 series and the Rugby World Cup when Kenya reached their first-ever Cup final in Adelaide for their sixth overall position with 64 points.

With all these triumphs, it is okay to agree that Collins Injera made the country proud, and he has more than just a name to show off.