For more than a decade, Brian Tanga has built a reputation as one of the most recognisable half-backs in Kenyan rugby, defying his small frame to carve out a remarkable career with Kabras Sugar and the national Sevens team.
Now, after years of carrying the ball, directing attacks and battling through some difficult moments on the pitch, the experienced playmaker has decided that his time in Sevens rugby has come to an end.
Tanga, who has been part of Kabras’ rise in both domestic rugby and the National Sevens Circuit, explained that the decision was not forced by one particular incident. Instead, it was his body telling him that the demands of the seven-a-side game were becoming increasingly difficult.
“The body itself tells you. It becomes tired after the warm-up and you just feel this game is too fast for you,” Tanga said while speaking on the sidelines of the Christie 7s, the final leg of the 2026 SportPesa National 7s Circuit.
“For me, I feel it is nice seeing the young boys coming up and filling the gap. It is just a good time to lead them and for them to take the club to another level in 7s.”
It is a fitting way for Tanga to close one chapter of his career. His journey into rugby was anything but conventional. He started out as a volleyball player at Ambira High School before switching codes in Form Three.
He spent about two years playing rugby before joining Western Vampire, an amateur side in Busia, shortly after completing high school.
His performances eventually earned him an opportunity at Kabras Sugar, where he successfully came through trials in 2013. From there, he worked his way through the club’s development structures before establishing himself in the senior side from the 2014/15 period.
Over the years, Tanga became an important figure at the Kakamega-based club, contributing to Kabras’ success in the Kenya Cup and Sevens rugby. He was also part of the Kabras side that won the National Sevens Circuit in 2017, a campaign he remembers fondly.
His performances at club level earned him national recognition. Under the late Benjamin Ayimba, Tanga was selected for the Kenya Sevens setup and was named Player of the Tournament at the Safari 7s. He was subsequently integrated into the Shujaa setup and made his World Rugby Sevens Series debut at the 2016 Hong Kong Sevens.
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For Tanga, the Christie 7s carries special significance because it was at the same tournament that he received one of his earliest opportunities with the national side.
“I think the first tournament I played, I was called up for the national team, that was 2015. It is the same Christie 7s. It has always been my tournament,” he said.
His international career would go on to take him around the world and to some of rugby’s biggest stages. Tanga has featured in more than 20 World Rugby Sevens Series tournaments and was part of the Kenya squad at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Looking back at the defining moments of his career, Tanga points to two achievements in particular.
“I think in 2017, when we won the National 7s Circuit, and in the national team I will say Singapore 7s, though I was still a rookie,” he reflected.
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But if there is one achievement that stands above the rest, it is his Olympic appearance.
Tanga was among the 12 players selected to represent Shujaa at the Paris Games in 2024, an opportunity he describes as the ultimate dream for any athlete.
“It was the highlight of my career. Of course, everybody wants to go to the Olympics. It is not easy, but if you keep the faith, you’ll get there.”
His career, however, has not been without painful setbacks.
One of the most difficult moments came at the 2025 Dala 7s in Kisumu when Tanga suffered a serious neck injury while playing for Kabras against Nakuru RFC in the quarter-finals. The injury affected his balance and vision and kept him away from competitive rugby for an extended period.
“ That injury was career threatening. I was hit from the back and I had a neck injury that lasted six months. I almost died,” Tanga said.
“I know most of the guys didn’t know it was really a setback for me, but I came back stronger. It is all about the mind. Once the mind is strong, you’ll push through everything.”
Remarkably, Tanga fought his way back. His return to international rugby in 2026 came after recovering from the injury, with the experienced half-back earning a place in the Shujaa squad for the Hong Kong 7s.
Away from the rugby field, Tanga has also entered a new chapter of his life after becoming a father. He celebrated the birth of his child, Hawi, with a message inspired by the Bible.
“For this child we prayed, and the Lord has granted our petition. 1st Samuel 1:27. Welcome, baby Hawi. You are a blessing to us.”
As he prepares to step away from Sevens, Tanga is already looking at the next generation expected to carry Kabras’ colours forward.
He singled out Rayvon Ambale, Jackson Siketa and Michael Lukusi , whom are affectionately referred to as the club’s “trio mbio” , as players capable of taking up the mantle.
“I think those three guys, I have them. They are called ‘trio mbio’. They are very good players. For me, it is just to encourage them to continue doing what they are doing. Above all, they should be disciplined and their careers will go miles.”
Tanga’s longevity has been built on a simple philosophy that has guided him throughout his journey.
“For me, everyone will say it. I always tell people: just be disciplined, train hard and believe in God.”
And while his physical stature may have caused some to doubt him when he first entered rugby, it ultimately became part of the story that made him stand out.
“Rugby has really taught me. First, it has given me a gift of friendship because I’ve met a lot of people through rugby. I would say it has also shaped my life, my family. I think I’ll just say that.”
Then comes the message that perhaps best sums up Brian Tanga’s career.
“You can see the size of my body, yeah. Always believe in yourself, just that.”
From a volleyball player at Ambira High School to a Kabras stalwart, National Sevens Circuit winner, Shujaa international and Olympic athlete, Tanga’s story has never been about size.
It has been about belief, resilience, discipline and the willingness to keep going when the odds appear stacked against you.
Now, as he closes the Sevens chapter, his challenge is no longer to prove that he belongs on the pitch. It is to help ensure that those coming behind him are ready to take the game forward.