Dave Madara harasses RVA with a dislocated shoulder

The late JC Wakhu was 2 years behind me and played Rugby with distinction before his premature death shortly after leaving campus. In this photo he is playing for Mean Maroon.


I was in 3rd form and in senior colts and Dave Madara was in 6th form. I believe that the year was 1980.

Actually the guy had a very painful dislocated collar bone and was on pain killers. RVA was too important. He took his painkillers as we headed to RVA. The journey took almost 3 hours and I remember guys trading stories aout Lenana rugby greats all the way to RVA

Stake Ondiek was playing Full back that day. Uncustomarily he kicked for touch a lot in that game. At one point I even saw him step back into his 22 to kick for touch, a clever thing to do.

But Madara was the star of that game. Now the guy was small I believe barely 5ft. He was playing at flyhalf. Only we guys knew that his shoulders were heavily padded (although RVA never played dirty). Still Madara seemed to find gaps in the RVA backline at will but the try of the day was when he got the ball on the half way line danced a little throwing the advancing backs in all directions before unleasing an up and under which looked harmless enough. But Madara chased it and the next time we saw him after that kick, he was under it catching it and falling with it on the RVA tryline. What a try!!

In those days we all travelled in the school lorry facing each other. All the way from Kijabe back to school Madara was in great pain and there were moments that it seemed almost unbearable. But the guys were delioghted, an RVA win never came easy. We all couldn't stop singing Madara's praises all the way back to school.

That day I learnt that size may matter in many places BUT certainly not in Rugby.