Table of Contents
- Naomi Jelagat stole the show at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup
- Jelagatrose from the football pitches in Nakuru to a rugby star in Nairobi
- The Kenyan Lionesses player holds the second row perfectly
Naomi Jelagat stole the show at the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup against Madagascar, casting a different light on the young athlete who started as a footballer in Nakuru.
Jelagat rose from the football pitches in Nakuru to a rugby star in Nairobi. She chalks up her entire sporting life as a journey inspired by immeasurable determination to live better and make Kenyan female athletes proud.
The Kenya Lionesses player holds the second row perfectly and roars hard with her swiftness and strength. Victory is the only language that she understands.
Who is Naomi Jelagat?
Naomi Jelagat is a Kenyan rugby player currently playing for the national women’s rugby 15-member team, the Kenyan Lionesses.
She started her sports career as a footballer playing for Kenyatta University women’s football team, the Desert Roses.
Jelagat found some satisfaction with football but wanted something more challenging. It was while playing for the Desert Roses that she thought of playing rugby.
Kenya Lionesses in action. Naomi Jelagat is one of the team’s 15 players. Photo/Kenya Lionesses
Rugby presented new dynamics in her sporting life, but also offered a bigger growth opportunity.
She is a critical player for the Lionesses’ 15s squad. Her past sporting adventure as a footballer inculcated a sense of honour and discipline for sports.
Jelagat credits her success in rugby to the lessons she learned when playing for the Desert Roses.
Naomi Jelagat grew up with an urge to explore different sports. Her former high school, Nakuru Girls’ High School shaped her sports dream immensely. It led her to embrace the power of unity in a team and a sense of purpose. ”
Football Journey
“Football taught me the value of unity in a team. I discovered that sports were a big part of my life at Nakuru Girls’. It gave me joy and purpose,” she explained.
To this day, Jelagat carries with her the spirit of hard work, discipline and mental fortitude that football taught her as a teenager and as a college student.
Despite playing rugby today, it’s football that shaped her speed, tactical skills and focus that has kept her with the Kenyan Lionesses.
Jelagat Rugby Transition
After years of perfecting her athletic skills with the Desert Roses, Naomi Jelagat craved for another challenge by setting her eyes on rugby.
Kenya Lionesses player Naomi Jelagat. Photo/Mozzart
She knew it wasn’t an easy sport to blend into and become a star like she was in football.
Jelagat recalls that her rugby debut was not only intense but also very exciting.
Her most challenging moments were learning rugby rules, and aligning herself to the physical demands of the game, which took a lot of time for her to conform to.
A few games in, her mental strength and physical fitness came under test, but she gracefully pulled through.
The Lionesses spotted her talent and called her to join the Kenyan national women’s rugby team in 2022.
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Since making her debut, Jelagat has grown into a key player for the Lionesses. Every step she takes means something to her. From earning her first cap to playing in major tournaments.
That journey has come with its highs and lows. The Lionesses have celebrated big wins, like their commanding performance against Madagascar.
Nevertheless, they’ve also faced tough moments, including a heavy 63–5 loss to South Africa in 2024 and a heartbreaking 16–15 defeat to Colombia in 2021.
Still, Jelagat remains grounded, noting that playing at that level isn’t easy. The training, the constant travel, the pressure have weighed her down at some point.
What keeps her going is staying focused on her purpose and leaning on the people who lift her up. Rugby has taught her that mental strength is just as vital as physical fitness.
Playing for the Lionesses has taught her the value of pausing, reflecting, relaxing and readjusting.
