South Africa Sevens legend Rosko 'Specmagic' Specman has pointed out one feature he believes makes Kenyan rugby unique.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsSpecmagic identified physicality as one of the defining features. He, however, believes the country’s players can reach greater heights by balancing their strength with effective ball movement.“What makes Kenyan rugby unique is just the physicality. But you know, for rugby, you need to have a balance. Sometimes you can be physical, but sometimes you let the ball do the work. And I think that is where South Africa are now,” he said.Brian Wahinya opens up on painful doping ordeal and journey to healingThe former Blitzboks star also backed the Kenya Morans, expressing confidence that the side has the quality to compete in the HSBC SVNS 2 division or even the top tier of international sevens rugby.“The Morans, that whole team can play at the HSBC SVNS 2 or even the main division,” he added.The Morans have continued to provide depth to Kenya’s sevens programme, offering a platform for emerging players to test themselves against international opposition and push for places in the national team, Shujaa.##NAJAVA_MECA_10047203##The South African’s own career offers a compelling example of success across different formats of the game, having established himself as one of the most recognisable players in international sevens before making his mark in the 15s game. Born and raised in Grahamstown, Specman developed through the Eastern Province and Sharks systems before joining the Pumas in 2013.His international career gathered momentum in 2014 when he joined the Blitzboks, quickly becoming a key figure in South Africa’s sevens setup.Why Chrissant Ojwang did not feature for Shujaa at the Safari 7sHe played a significant role in the Blitzboks’ World Series title triumphs in 2017 and 2018, with his performances earning him a nomination for the World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year award in 2017.His achievements on the global stage were further underlined at the Olympic Games, where he won bronze medals at Rio 2016 and Paris 2024.Reflecting on the two campaigns, Specman described his return to the Olympic stage after an eight-year break from sevens as a significant personal challenge.##NAJAVA_MECA_10047199##“Winning bronze in 2016 was really exciting. After that, I took a break from the game, and returning eight years later was a great challenge. I wanted to see if I could still do it at the highest level, and I ended up winning two Olympic bronze medals, something no other South African had done before,” he said.Specman’s decision to step away from sevens opened up opportunities in 15s, allowing him to experience a different side of professional rugby.Humphrey Kayange identifies current Kenya Sevens player possessing his qualitiesAfter returning to 15s in 2019, he represented several South African franchises, including the Blue Bulls, Cheetahs, Stormers and Griquas.He also played Super Rugby for the Bulls and Stormers before earning his Springboks debut in 2021, adding another milestone to an already distinguished career. He played the full 80 minutes in South Africa’s 40-9 victory over Georgia.His time in 15s also brought him into the wider Springboks setup, with opportunities that included being part of the British and Irish Lions squad.##NAJAVA_MECA_10047209##Looking back at his career, Specman said the chance to explore different avenues of rugby was among the biggest benefits of taking a break from sevens.“One of the best things about taking a break from sevens rugby was the opportunity to explore other avenues of the game. I played Super Rugby for the Bulls and the Stormers, became a Springbok in 2022, and was also part of the British and Irish Lions squad.When I look back at all the medals I have won, the three I cherish most are my two Olympic medals and my British and Irish Lions medal,” he said.
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