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Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes are the winners of the 2023 Safari 7s.

Agnes Nakuya, Lydia Namabiro, and Rita Nadunga crossed the try line to guide Uganda to a 15-12 win over Kenya Lionesses at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.

It was a sweet revenge for the Lady Cranes, who had fallen to the Lionesses 12-05 on Day One of the tournament.

Unlike the previous games, the Lady Cranes had crumbled against the Cubs in the group stages earlier in the day largely due to a lack of ball movement but managed to play expansive rugby to register the victory.

“The loss to them (Lionessess) was close yesterday, but we believed we had to fix a few things mentally and put in the work. Congratulations to the girls; they’ve managed to pull this off. It’s a very good feeling” head coach Charles Onen said.

It should be noted that the Lady Cranes 7s were bronze medallists in Tunisia after defeating Zambia 29-10 in the third-place playoff of the Africa Women’s Sevens.

The Lady Rugby Cranes of Uganda will battle Kenya Lionesses at Mamboleo Grounds in Kisumu on Saturday, November 11 in the Elgon Cup.

Ugandas squad for the match has been named as the teams will be meeting for the first time this year.

The two sides last met in November last year at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku in the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup and Kenya dominated the match, winning 23-03.

The Squad

1. Faith Namugga (Avengers) 

2. Fazirah Namukwaya (Avengers) 

3. Patricia Anek (Thunderbirds)

4. Leona Acen (Black Pearls)

5. Charity Atimango (Thunderbirds)

6.  Peace Mirembe (Black Pearls) 

7. Cabrine Kirabo (Avengers) 

8. Angela Nanyonjo (Avengers)

9. Sarah Nakafeero (Thunderbirds)

10. Tina Akello (Nile Rapids) 

11. Georgina Namukose (Avengers)

12. Asha Nakityo (Thunderbirds)

13. Monica Nandudu (Mbale)

14. Emily Lekuru (Black Pearls) 

15. Juliet Nandawula (Avengers) 

16. Kadara Nalinya (Panthers)

17. Brenda Kemigisha (Avengers)

18. Doreen Mbabazi (Panthers)

19. Nahia Fazial (Thunderbirds)

20. Brenda Kayiyi (Panthers) 

21. Fatuma Ramia (Panthers)

22. Angom Evelyn (Panthers)

23. Florence Babirye (Avengers)

The ultimate game of the 2023 Victoria Cup will be played this evening at Kings Park Arena in Bweyogerere as the Uganda Rugby Cranes battle eternal rivals Kenya Simbas.

Uganda beat Zambia in the first game, winning 30-08 while Kenya registered a 36-12 four days later against the same side.

Uganda and Kenya last met in 2022 in the Rugby Africa Gold Cup in France and the Simbas came out on top.

Today’s fixtures will also serve as the first leg of the Elgon Cup, with Kenya hosting the return leg to be played next weekend in Kisumu.

Team News

Uganda’s technical team has made four changes to the starting side that defeated Zambia last weekend.

Asuman Mugerwa replaces Collins Kimbowa, sea robbers Moses Ziwa (Openside flank) and Sydney Gongodyo (eighth man) are in to make their debuts and Joseph Oyet is in at right wing for Shakim Ssembusi.

On the opposite side, Reinhard Mwalati, Wilhite Mususi and Walter Okoth are the three changes for the Simbas for the clash with Mwalati and Okoth making their test debuts in this fixture.

Uganda Rugby Cranes

Starting XV: 15. Timothy Kisiga, 14. Joseph Oyet, 13. Michael Wokorach, 12. Eric Mula, 11. Jacob Ocen, 10. Ivan Magomu, 9. Conrad Wanyama, 8. Sydney Gongodyo, 7. Moses Zziwa, 6. Byron Oketayot, 5. Eliphaz Emong, 4. Charles Uhuru, 3. Asuman Mugerwa, 2. Faragi Odugo, 1. Santos Ssenteza
Replacements: 16. Nathan Bwambale, 17. Ivan Kabagambe, 18. Saul Kivumbi, 19. Robert Aziku, 20. Frank Kidega, 21. Nicholas Kato, 22. Al Hajj Manano, 23. Liam Walker

Kenya Simbas

Starting XV: 15. Jone Kubu, 14. Joel Inzuga, 13. Bryceson Adaka, 12. Walter Okoth, 11. Alfred Orege, 10. Brian Wahinya, 9. Barry Young, 1. Ephraim Oduor, 2. Teddy Akala,3. Wilhite Mususi, 4. Hibrahim Ayoo, 5. Hillary Odhiambo, 6. George Nyambua (Captain), 7. Reinhard Mwalati, 8. Jeanson Misoga
Replacements: 16. Emmanuel Otieno, 17. Thomas Okidia, 18. Hillary Mwanjilwa, 19. Brian Ndirangu, 20. Peter Waitere, 21. Elkeans Musonye, 22. Dan Ang’wech, 23. Paul Mutsami

Uganda National Sevens Team coach Tolbert Onyango has named the final squad to play at the Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The two-day tournament takes place next weekend (September 16-17) and will act as a qualification pathway for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Four players have been released from the team that has been in camp and these are Timothy Mugisha, Aaron Tukei, Karim Arinaitwe and Mark Osuna.

Rhino’s Davis Shimwa is the only player on the team who will be making a debut for the national side having impressed coach Onyango.

Pius Ogena and Isaac Massa make a return to the national side after being away from the team due to personal reasons and injuries respectively.

Mubarak Waandera and Denis Etwau whose first run with the team was during the Dubai 7s maintain their places and are joined by usual suspects.

The Team

Ian Munyani (Captain), Aaron Ofoyrwoth (Vice Captain), Adrian Kasito, Philip Wokorach, Isaac Massanganzira, William Nkore, Alex Aturinda, Pius Ogena, Norbert Okeny, Denis Etwau, Mubarak Wandera, Davis Shimwa (debutant)

Philip Wokorach was instrumental as his side AS Bedarrides Chateauneuf du Pape defeated CA Perigueux in the National 2.

Wokorach helped his side to their first-leg quarter-final win in the fourth tier of French rugby. AS Bedarrides defeated CA Perigueux 16-14 in Paris, France .

Wokorach delivered 11 points, which included three penalties, one conversion and a try.

“The win was very important for us because the quarterfinal is played on a home and away basis,” Wokorach told Nile Post.

“And having the first leg at home with us emerging victors gives us an upper hand in the return leg,” he added.

AS Bedarrides Chateauneuf du Pape is currently fourth on the Pool 1 table with 13 matches played, 8 won and 5 lost.

Uganda Men’s Sevens captain and former Rugby Cranes international Michael Wokorach has announced his retirement from international rugby.

“Nange ndi muntu nkoowa,” loosely translated as “I am also a person, I get tired,” is how the former captain announced his retirement on April 14 as reported by Kawowo Sports.

He congratulated the new captain Ian Munyani, to whom officially handed over the armband during the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series 2023.

Munyani will now be assisted by Aaron Ofoyrwoth following Wokorach’s departure. Wokorach captained Uganda at four Commonwealth Games events since 2010.

He also led the team through five Challenger Series events since 2020, and two Rugby World Cup Sevens events since 2018.

In 2019, Wokorach retired from test rugby the Rugby Cranes but he announced his availability two years later following the death of his beloved coach Robert Seguya.

Heathens host perennial rivals KOBs in the Rugby Premiership top-of-the-table clash on Saturday, 1st April at Kyadondo.

The first leg was decided by a drop goal from Aaron Ofoywroth as Heathens smiled to a 17-15 win.

However, KOBs have not seen defeat since and are top of the pile with a two-point advantage over their rivals heading into the return leg.

Team news

As already known, both teams will not have their national sevens stars.

Heathens will be without Aaron Ofyowroth and captain Michael Wokorach who are away with the national sevens team.

In the absence of Ofoyrwoth, Heathens have gone for a veteran presence with Faisal Gama starting at scrumhalf.

For KOBs, they will not have sevens stars Ian Munyani and Adrian Kasito while Mark Osuna rejoins the team from the sevens camps and has been confirmed to start on the bench for this game.

Pius Ogena, the leading try scorer will also not be available together with hooker Faragi Odugo and prop Jude Jjuko who are in Hong Kong with the East Africa 10s team.

At the start of the month, the Uganda Rugby Sevens team officially started preparations for World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series and the Africa Rugby Sevens.

Nineteen players started training at Kyadondo Rugby Club and the squad has been trimmed to fourteen for a camp in Stellenbosch, South Africa to continue preps for the Challenger Series that will take place in the same city later in April.

Rising stars Aaron Tukei (Buffaloes), William Lukwago (Mongers), Allan Alango (Rhinos), and Yasin Wasswa (Hippos) make the squad for the training camp.

Notably missing on the training squad are usual suspects Michael Wokorach and Desire Ayera as well well as France-based Philip Wokorach.

The two rounds of the Challenger Series will be played from 20th-22nd April and 28th-30th April in Stellenbosch, South Africa.

Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda, and Zimbabwe are the teams that will take part in the Challenger Series.

Uganda Sevens Squad

Aaron Tukei, William Lukwago, Allan Alango, Yasin Wasswa, Mubarak Wandera, Denis Etwau, Timothy Mugisha, Alex Aturinda, William Nkore, Norbert Okeny, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Ian Munyani, Adrian Kasito, Timothy Kisiga.

Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes internationals Yvonne Najjuma and Peace Lekuru will feature for Mwamba Ladies in the Kenya Cup final.

Najjuma and Lekuru will form the midfield partnership against Impala Saracens tomorrow afternoon at the Impala Club in Nairobi city.

“We are happy to welcome them back. It is a big morale booster as they will reinforce our midfield. They are the engine. They missed the last three matches while in Uganda.” Mwamba Ladies coach Joseph Baabu Odindi said to the Nation.

Uganda Rugby Cranes will also have two internationals in the men’s Kenya Cup final. Eliphaz Emong and Asuman Mugerwa will represent their team Kabras take on KCB Rugby at Kakamega.

Rugby Premiership leaders KOBs will look to maintain their lead at the top as the first round ends when they visit Impis at Makerere on Women’s Day.

KOBs are top of the pile and head to Makerere for the lunchtime kick-off nothing short of a bonus point against a side that has now gone three games without victory.

The blue army welcomes Joseph Aredo back but the utility player will start in the midfield along with Daudi Ssemwami. The changes in KOBs backline show depth in the squad as Brian Ochan and Josiah Sempeke will pair up in the halfback and Paul Oyesigye comes in at left wing.

Emmanuel Echodu returns as well to lock with Robert Aziku.

In other fixtures, second-placed Heathens travel to Entebbe to take on Mongers while Pirates visit Walukuba in Jinja.

Jinja Hippos who endured a rough patch at the beginning of the season have regained their form to fight their way back into the top four. They visit rhinos at Legends.

Rams, the only side yet to see victory this season, will play host to Buffaloes at Makere in the late kickoff.

Wednesday Fixtures