The Sunshine Sevens, England’s longest-running charity rugby sevens event, once again brought together elite and amateur players from across the UK and beyond. Blending fast-paced action with a strong sense of community and charitable giving.

Among the standout stories of this year's tournament was Rayvon Ambale (aka Forest), a DBA Africa scholarship recipient, who had the opportunity to represent one of the prestigious Shogun Rugby teams. Shogun Rugby, formerly known as Samurai RFC, is renowned as one of the world’s top invitational rugby sevens clubs, known for assembling talented players from all over the globe.

With established coaching figures like Mike Friday, former head coach of Kenya Sevens and USA Rugby Sevens, coaching the teams, the experience was a rare and invaluable opportunity for a young player like Forest. Being mentored by one of the top minds in the global sevens game provided Forest with elite-level exposure and a glimpse into the standards expected at the highest levels of international rugby.

Despite facing much older and more seasoned opponents, Forest made an immediate impact. He showcased his speed, physicality, and rugby intelligence, crossing the try line five times and putting in several powerful defensive hits. His Shogun team’s impressive run was only halted during the knockout stages after a fiercely contested 26–26 draw, eventually losing in golden point extra time to another Shogun side, led by fellow Kenyan and former Kenya Sevens international Eddy Anya.

Beyond the silverware, the Sunshine Sevens delivered on its mission to promote rugby development while raising funds for charitable causes. The tournament’s unique mix,  featuring established players like Eddy Anya, who has previously competed on the HSBC World Sevens Series, alongside emerging talents like Forest just graduating from high school.

Forest’s story is particularly inspiring considering his rapid development. When he first arrived at Bryanston School through DBA Africa’s scholarship programme just 18 months ago, he was 11 kilograms lighter and still adjusting to the demands of elite schoolboy rugby in the UK. His transformation, both physically and mentally, reflects his personal resilience and the strength of the DBA Africa sports development model, which provides life-changing pathways for talented African youth.

A special thank you goes to Nick Williams of Bryanston for his continued mentorship and support throughout the weekend, embodying the community spirit that underpins Bryanston in giving Forest and his family the opportunity to spend 18 months in England.

At DBA Africa, we believe that sport is more than just a game, it’s a vehicle for education, leadership development, and offers global opportunities. Forest’s journey from grassroots school rugby in Kakamega, Kenya to playing under some of the world’s best coaches in the England is a powerful example of the life-changing impact that sports scholarships and development pathways can achieve.