{{Short description|Kenyan rugby union and sevens player}} {{Use British English|date=October 2023}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox rugby biography | name = Willy Ambaka | image = Willy Ambaka Rio 2016.jpg | full_name = William Ambaka Ndayara | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|05|14}} | birth_place = Wundanyi, Kenya | height = 1.94 m | weight = {{convert|100|kg|stlb lb|0|abbr=on}} | occupation = | school = Lubinu Boys High School<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.teamkenya.co.ke/news/5009-willy-ambakas-13-yr-career-ends-disappointment | title=Willy Ambaka's 13 Yr Career Ends in Disappointment | website=teamkenya.co.ke | first=Tony | last=Kipkorir | access-date=13 March 2025}}</ref> | university = | relatives = | position = Winger | currentclub = | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = | years1 = 2010–2013, 2015 | clubs1 = Kenya Harlequins | apps1 = | points1 = | years2 = 2013–2014 | clubs2 = Lyon | apps2 = 10 | points2 = 30 | years3 = 2014–2015 | clubs3 = {{Rut|Western Province}} | apps3 = 9 | points3 = 0 | years4 = 2017–2018 | clubs4 = {{Rut|Manawatu}} | apps4 = 5 | points4 = 5 | repyears1 = 2011–2013, 2015–present | repteam1 = Kenya Sevens | repcaps1 = 30 | reppoints1 = 325 | clubupdate = 16 October 2017 | repupdate = 1 August 2014 }}
'''William Ambaka Ndayara''' (born 14 May 1990) is a Kenyan rugby union player, currently playing for the Kenyan national sevens team as well as for {{Rut|Manawatu}} in New Zealand's Mitre 10 Cup. He has previously played professionally for French Rugby Pro D2 team, Lyon OU,<ref name="Ambaka turns professional">{{cite web | url=http://sporton.nation.co.ke/latest-headlines/ambaka-turns-professional/ | title=Ambaka turns professional | publisher=SportOn! | date=16 June 2013 | accessdate=1 August 2014 | archive-date=8 August 2014 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044528/http://sporton.nation.co.ke/latest-headlines/ambaka-turns-professional/ | url-status=dead }}</ref> and the South African Currie Cup side, {{Rut|Western Province}}.<ref name="SARU Player Profile Willy Ambaka">{{SA Rugby Player Profile | id=102891 | name=Willy Ambaka | date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref name="It's Rugby Player Profile Willy Ambaka">{{cite web | url=http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_27493.html | title=It's Rugby Player Profile Willy Ambaka | publisher=It's Rugby | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref><ref name="Scoresway Player Profile Willy Ambaka">{{cite web | url=http://www.scoresway.com/?sport=rugby&page=player&id=3921 | title=Scoresway Player Profile Willy Ambaka | publisher=Scoresway | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> His regular position is winger.
==Early Career and Sevens Rugby==
Ambaka started his rugby career for Kenya Harlequins in 2010. Harlequins' strength and conditioning coach, Geoffrey Kimani, recommended Ambaka to the Kenya Sevens head coach, Benjamin Ayimba. He made his debut for the national Kenya Sevens team at the 2011 Hong Kong Sevens tournament, and represented them during the 2011–12 and 2012–13 IRB Sevens World Series. Ambaka was chosen as part of the 2012–13 HSBC Sevens World Series Dream Team based on his performance that season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2066744.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607005019/http://www.irbsevens.com/news/newsid=2066744.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=7 June 2013 |title=Seven make new World Series Dream Team|publisher=International Rugby Board |accessdate=26 January 2014}}</ref> He was one of three nominations for the IRB Sevens Player of the Year award in 2013,<ref name="Ambaka shortlisted for IRB Men's Sevens Player of the Year">{{cite press release | url=http://www.kenyarfu.com/index.php/national-teams/kenya-sevens/339-ambaka-shortlisted-for-irb-men-s-sevens-player-of-the-year | title=Ambaka shortlisted for IRB Men's Sevens Player of the Year | publisher=Kenya RFU | date=20 June 2013 | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> but lost out to Tim Mikkelson of New Zealand. He also played for the Kenya Sevens at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Moscow.
Ambaka was also included in the Kenya national team squad that played in the 2014 Africa Cup competition (which doubled up as a 2015 Rugby World Cup qualifying tournament),<ref name="Back with a mission: France-based Ambaka joins 15s side for World Cup qualifier in Madagascar">{{cite web | url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/article/2000121980/back-with-a-mission-france-based-ambaka-joins-15s-side-for-world-cup-qualifier-in-madagascar | title=Back with a mission: France-based Ambaka joins 15s side for World Cup qualifier in Madagascar | publisher=Standard Digital | date=22 May 2014 | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> but had to withdraw after suffering an ankle injury.<ref name="TREU NAMES SQUAD: Coach blends experience with youth for Commonwealth">{{cite web | url=http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/article/2000128007/treu-names-squad-coach-blends-experience-with-youth-for-commonwealth | title=TREU NAMES SQUAD: Coach blends experience with youth for Commonwealth | publisher=Standard Digital | date=12 July 2014 | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref>
In 2022, He featured for Kenya at the Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Collins |first=Amanga |date=2022-09-02 |title=Kenya Sevens squad for 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens |url=https://www.pd.co.ke/sports/kenya-sevens-rugby-world-cup-sevens-147715/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=www.pd.co.ke |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Njuguna |first=William |date=2022-09-03 |title=Injera recalled to Shujaa squad ahead of Rugby World Cup Sevens |url=https://www.the-star.co.ke/sports/rugby/2022-09-03-injera-recalled-to-shujaa-squad-ahead-of-rugby-world-cup-sevens/ |access-date=2022-09-17 |website=The Star |language=en-KE}}</ref>
==Lyon==
In 2013, Ambaka signed a professional contract with Lyon for the 2013–14 Rugby Pro D2 season,<ref name="Ambaka turns professional"/> becoming the first Kenyan rugby player to play for a team in the top two divisions in France.<ref name="Ambaka makes history as he joins Lyon">{{cite web | url=http://kenyapage.net/commentary/rugby-news/ambaka-makes-history-as-he-joins-lyon/ | title=Ambaka makes history as he joins Lyon | publisher=Kenya Page | date=19 August 2013 | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> He played in ten matches and scored six tries as Lyon won the title and promotion to the Top 14 for 2014–15.
==Western Province==
On 31 July 2014, South African Currie Cup side {{Rut|Western Province}} announced that Ambaka would join them ahead of the 2014 Currie Cup Premier Division season.<ref name="Wing Ambaka Ndayara to join WP Rugby">{{cite press release | url=http://wprugby.com/wing-ambaka-ndayara-to-join-wp-rugby/ | title=Wing Ambaka Ndayara to join WP Rugby | publisher=Western Province | date=31 July 2014 | accessdate=1 August 2014}}</ref> He was signed on the recommendation of Jerome Paarwater, the coach of the Kenya national team and former coach of Western Province.{{citation needed|date=October 2023}}
However, shortly after arriving in Cape Town, he suffered an ankle injury and made no appearances for the team during their title-winning season.<ref name="Ankle injury grounds WP flyer">{{cite web | url=http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Injury-grounds-WP-flyer-20140901 | title=Ankle injury grounds WP flyer | publisher=Sport24 | date=1 September 2014 | accessdate=29 October 2014}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
==External links== * {{World Rugby Sevens Series player}} * {{ItsRugby}} * {{Olympics.com profile}} * {{Olympedia}}
{{Kenya Men's 2020 Summer Olympics Squad}} {{Kenya 2016 Summer Olympics Squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ambaka, Willy}} Category:Kenyan rugby union players Category:Living people Category:1990 births Category:People from Taita-Taveta County Category:Rugby union wings Category:Stormers players Category:Lyon OU Rugby players Category:Expatriate rugby union players in France Category:Male rugby sevens players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2016 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic rugby sevens players for Kenya Category:Kenya international rugby sevens players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2020 Summer Olympics Category:Manawatu rugby union players Category:Simbas players Category:Rugby sevens players at the 2022 Commonwealth Games Category:Kenyan expatriate rugby union players Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in France Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in New Zealand Category:Expatriate rugby union players in New Zealand Category:Expatriate rugby union players in South Africa Category:Kenyan expatriate sportspeople in South Africa Category:Commonwealth Games competitors for Kenya