Story of former Kenya Sevens' star Oscar Dennis now at Paralympic Games after nasty accident

The Kenya National Paralympic Committee (KNPC) recently announced that Oscar Dennis landed in Paris, France for the 2024 Paralympic Games.

The former Kenya Sevens ace, now a para-cyclist, is stepping in for the injured Benson Mwaniki to pilot Kennedy Ogada in the Tandem Road Race B1.

This transition marks a significant shift for Dennis, who retired from rugby after a life-altering accident in August 2020.

He was involved in a crash on his motorbike, forcing him to step away from his love, rugby at just 27 years old.

However, giving up on sports was never an option for Dennis. Instead, he redirected his focus and a newfound passion in para-cycling, a sport that will see him compete on one of the world's biggest stages.

Early days in rugby

Dennis’ athletic journey began long before he picked up a rugby ball.

Raised in Kenya, he attended Banda School, where his love for sports blossomed.

Contrary to popular belief, rugby was not his first passion. He excelled in various sports, including hockey, cricket, swimming, and athletics. His enthusiasm for these activities persisted through high school, where he continued to diversify his pursuits.

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“I grew up in Kenya at Banda School, doing all sports and liking them all. This continued into my high school years; I continued to play hockey, rugby, cricket, swimming, athletics, and other sports rather than focusing on one,” Dennis recalled.

It was not until he moved to Australia after finishing school that he began to narrow his focus, eventually turning his attention to rugby.

His overseas experiences were instrumental in shaping his rugby career. Dennis had the opportunity to play for Bath Youth Rugby in the United Kingdom, and the University of Queensland in Australia, and even had stints in Russia and Chicago.

A scholarship to play for Bond University in Australia’s Queensland Premier competition followed, and these diverse experiences allowed him to develop a deep understanding of the sport and its varied styles across the globe.

National team debut

Upon returning to Kenya from Australia, Dennis received a call from his friend James Evans, who was then playing for Nondies RFC, inviting him to join the team.

This opportunity reignited his passion for rugby, and he soon found himself representing the Nondies in the National Sevens Circuit. His performances caught the attention of national team selectors, leading to his call-up to the Kenya Sevens squad.

“My first camp for the national team was for Safari Sevens in 2014 when I was playing golf and got a call from Paul Treu asking if I could make it for training that evening,” Dennis remembered.

Despite the sudden call-up, he was thrilled to be part of the squad and shared a room with Kenya Sevens captain Andrew Amonde.

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He described his debut as a dream come true. He went on to enjoy a successful career with the national team, including winning the 2019 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens title and making his HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series debut under coach Paul Murunga.

Career-threatening injury

However, his rising career came to an abrupt halt in late 2020.

After returning from Bermuda, where he had helped SX10 win the World 10s Series, Dennis was involved in a devastating accident.

He was riding his motorbike after dinner with a friend when a car overtaking from behind struck him. The impact was severe, and Dennis found himself fighting for his life on the road-side, the victim of a hit-and-run.

“I had just returned from Bermuda after winning the Rugby 10’s competition and was having dinner with a friend and his mother.

I then departed on my motorbike at around 9 PM, and as I turned onto the quarry lane, a car was overtaking from behind. As I went right, it came and crushed my leg. I also went over the roof of the car and I recall waking up on the side of the road, winded and unconscious,” he painfully recalled.

Life-threatening injuries

His first surgery took place at Aga Khan Hospital in Nairobi before he was airlifted to Cape Town, South Africa, where he narrowly avoided two amputation surgeries.

Over the next six weeks, he underwent seven surgeries, including skin grafts and the insertion of pins in his toes and feet. The road to recovery was long and arduous, with five more surgeries required over the next nine months.

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“It was an extremely long and hard journey to recovery,” Dennis admitted.

However, throughout that challenging period, his family provided unwavering support. His sister accompanied him to South Africa, and the family of Blitzboks star James Murphy hosted them for a year.

Dennis also credits his girlfriend, and the global rugby community for their encouragement and support.

Though Dennis acknowledges that he wishes he could have played more for the national team, he believes everything happens for a reason.

“I am a believer that things happen for a reason, and I guess there was another path in life for me,” he reflected.

Rugby highlights

Looking back on his rugby career, Dennis highlighted several memorable moments he cherishes up to date.

“My best moments in rugby include getting my first call up into the national team, making my debut in Hong Kong against Fiji, being with all my brothers every day during training, winning the Bermuda 10’s during Covid, and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympic Games,” he offered.

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Now, as a para-cyclist, Oscar Dennis is ready to tackle a new challenge.