Wokorach inspires Rugby Cranes to 7s glory
The Rugby 7s team that etched its name in the history books by winning the trophy in Nairobi, Kenya last weekend. Courtesy photo
What you need to know:
- Philip Wokorach and his Rugby Cranes 7s teammates gave him more, repeatedly bringing the Safricom Stadium, Kasarani to its feet as they secured the continental title.
- From Dubai, Rugby Cranes will thereafter head to South Africa for the Cape Town 7s.
KAMPALA. Tobert Onyango set himself a top-four target at the two-day Africa Cup 7s that ended in Nairobi, Kenya on Saturday.
Philip Wokorach and his Rugby Cranes 7s teammates gave him more, repeatedly bringing the Safricom Stadium, Kasarani to its feet as they secured the continental title.
Uganda breezed past Namibia 38-19 to be crowned champions with the two finalists qualifying for the World Sevens Series qualifiers to be played during the Hong Kong Sevens in 2017. “I am very happy for the boys. It has been a long time coming. We have tried and waited for many years and luck was on our side today,” an emotional coach Onyango said moments after the final.
Rugby Cranes will also take part in the 2016 Dubai 7s and will go there as an invitational side in Pool B that has South Africa, USA and Scotland.
From Dubai, Rugby Cranes will thereafter head to South Africa for the Cape Town 7s.
That marks a remarkable two days during which the shorter code here went from nothing to near-greatness.
Uganda played in the lucrative 7s World Series circuit in the early 2000s before Uganda Rugby Union (URU) dedicated their entire tiny resource envelope to 15s, something 7s patriots have decried for years.
“The team is hungry to play at that level and we want to emulate our brothers Kenya,” captain Eric Kasiita took pride in having achieved a first.
“I am the first 7s captain to bring this trophy to Uganda and I am happy. The boys are not big but they played their hearts out.”
In the final, tries from Pius Ogena, Wokorach, Kasiita, James Odong, Solomon Okia and Lawrence Ssebuliba painted the victory, brightly.Wokorach, who recovered from a groin injury to make the trip, stepped up to make the conversions.
However, it’s the semifinal victory over bitter rivals Kenya 17-12, who were the defending champions, which stood out. Again, ‘poet’ Wokorach drew first blood before he converted Ramadhan Govle’s try to make it 12-0. Okia then landed a third try.
The signs of a great 48 hours were ominous from Friday morning when Wokorach scored a blinder with a few seconds to go at 14-14 to beat last year’s losing finalists Zimbabwe 19-14.
Later on, Govle, Kasiita, Ogena, Alhaji Manano, Kevin Kermundu and Odong scored in the 35-7 win over Mauritius, with Wokorach making six conversions to advance as pool winners.
UGANDA’S RESULTS
FINAL: Uganda 38-19 Namibia
SEMIFINAL: Kenya 12-17 Uganda
POOL RESULTS
Uganda 19-14 Zimbabwe
Uganda 35-7 Mauritius.
