Kabras RFC flyhalf Jone Kubu has opened up on the difficult months he spent on the sidelines after receiving a red card in the Kenya Cup semifinal against Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad.
Kubu was sent off early in the second half at the Kakamega Showground for a dangerous foul, resulting in an automatic suspension that ruled him out of the Kenya Cup final against KCB Rugby.The suspension came at a crucial stage of the season, forcing the experienced Kenya international to miss the Kenya Cup final, the Enterprise Cup and the opening two legs of the National 7s Circuit.
Former Kenya Sevens star bags major title in USFor Kubu, being forced to watch his teammates from the sidelines proved particularly difficult.“It feels so nice and awesome to be back. I missed playing with the boys. Watching them from the outside is quite different from being on the pitch with them. I’m so happy and excited to be back in the mix with the boys,” he told Mozzart Sport.
The fly-half cum fullback made his return at the Kabeberi 7s, where Kabras failed to reach the semifinals. The Sugarmen, however, bounced back strongly at the Driftwood 7s, lifting the title after beating KCB Rugby 15-5 in the final.The victory was particularly significant as it marked Kabras’ first win over KCB in this year’s National 7s Circuit.
Reflecting on the incident that led to his suspension, Kubu said the experience had taught him valuable lessons about resilience and character.How Driftwood Sevens organisers aim to raise the bar after successful 2026 edition“Things like that happen, and you just need to learn from them. Your character is shown by how you get back up after you’ve been knocked down,” he said.While returning to action has been a welcome relief, Kubu admitted that the long spell away from competitive rugby has left him working to regain his match fitness.“The most difficult thing about serving a suspension is that you’re not training or playing with the boys. You feel like you’re being left out of something. It’s a feeling we don’t really like, but I’ve learned a lot from the experience,” he offered.
His biggest challenge now is getting back to his physical best, particularly in the sevens format.“What is affecting me now is that I’m not yet fully fit because I haven’t played in a while, especially sevens. The last time I played sevens was in Los Angeles, and that’s a long time to be away.
Now it’s about getting that fitness back. The toughest part is trying to regain match fitness,” he averred.Kenyan rugby star makes long-awaited debut in CanadaDespite the challenges, Kubu is eager to reconnect with the fans and bring back the flair that has made him a popular figure.“Fans can expect some JK JK stuff here and there. I’ve missed entertaining them,” he concluded.