2021 Rugby Africa Cup
Uganda vs Ghana
Saturday, 10/07-2021@Kyadondo Grounds – 3pm
Uganda will be out for a an opening victory when they take on Ghana in the Rugby Africa Cup at the Kyadondo Grounds on Saturday, July 10.
For the first time in 19 months, the Rugby Cranes XVs side will be in action because the international XVs season didn’t happen due to Covid-19 disruptions.
As a Covid-19 preventive measure, the team has been in a bubble in preparation for the games, subjected to PCR tests for Covid-19 as well as undergoing regular testing by the Uganda Rugby Medical Society team.
New Rugby Cranes Captain Ivan Magomu is eager to get back into action and wants to start his reign on a winning note.
“I’m deeply honored to be named Captain, thanks to Uganda Rugby Union, friends and family. We hope to win our game against Ghana and I believe we can do it because the boys are in great shape,” Magomu said.
“It’s been a while since we played for the national team and we can’t wait for the match. Everybody is feeling great ahead of the game and we all hope for good results,” Magomu added.
The Rugby Africa Cup forms a pathway to the 2023 Rugby World Cup with participants across the groups in the continent eyeing for one direct qualification spot into the final World Cup tournament in France and for one place in the final subsequent qualification tournament(s).
Rugby Cranes will play host to Algeria on 18th July in the second game of the tournament.
The Rugby Africa Cup is an annual Rugby Union tournament involving African nations, organised by Rugby Africa.
The tournament was first held in 2000 and has since been contested on an annual basis.
This year the top 14 teams based on the African ranking will compete in a single coordinated competition until the last two face each other in the final in 2022.
The second round of the Rugby Africa Cup will be played across 4 Pools of 3 teams each in July in 3 different venues, namely Kenya, Côte d’ivoire and Uganda, the 4th one remains to be confirmed.
The top 2 teams of each Pool will progress to the 3rd and final round of the Rugby Africa Cup in 2022. An 8-teams Knock-Out tournament played with Quarterfinals, Semi-finals and a Grand-Finale will see the Winner qualify directly for RWC 2023 and the Runner-up compete in a Hlobal Repechage Tournament.
Rugby Cranes squad for Ghana Game
Forwards
1 Santos Senteza, 2 Faraji Odugo, 3 Brian Odongo (vice-captain), 4 Robert Aziku, 5 Eliphaz Emong, 6 Kelvin Balagadde, 7 Byron Oketayot, 8 Desire Ayera.
Backs
9 Paul Epillo (vice-captain), 10 Ivan Magomu (captain), 11 Daudi Semwami, 12 Pius Ogena, 13 Justin Kimono, 14 Solomon Okia, 15 Adrian Kasito.
Reserves
16 Ronald Kanyanya, 17 Saul Kivumbi, 18 Collins Kimbowa, 19 Jacob Ochen, 20 Mark Omoding, 21 Aaron Ofoywroth, 22 Maxwell Ebonga, 23 Claude Otema.
