Underrated Ruggers look beyond tags

Lawrence Sebuliba provides support as Ramathan Govule makes a move during a Rugby Sevens engagement in Cape Town last year. PHOTO BY AFP

What you need to know:

  • Hong Kong press declared last year’s losing semifinalists Germany as favourites to trump 11 others for the lone slot at the 2017-18 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series

KAMPALA.

Rugby Cranes will face an enormous task to join the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series right from the onset when the qualifying tournament kicks off on Friday in Hong Kong.

Coach Tolbert Onyango’s team face Tonga, Germany and Jamaica hoping to finish in the top two in pool E to guarantee progress to the quarterfinals.

Of those, Tonga boasts the biggest CV having been to five World Cup Sevens (1993, 1997, 2001, 2005 and 2009).

On the other hand, Germany made it to the 2013 World Cup in Russia. Jamaica, like Uganda, despite the latter being African champions, are upstarts at this level.

“I really don’t know much about Germany, Tonga and Jamaica,” Michael Wokorach, the most senior player on the team, said.
“(Local) press here say Germany are favourites but we don’t really care much. We are here on a mission,” he declared.

Coach Tolbert Onyango agreed. “Not much is known about the three apart from Germany being the top seeds,” the Kenyan-born tutor said.

The Germans lost 17-7 to Hong Kong in the semifinals of last year’s tournament. Japan would then beat hosts Hong Kong 24-14 in the final.

Uganda who are residing at the Marco Polo Hotel are seeded seventh out of 12 teams. Onyango is relishing their first practice session at the Hong Kong Stadium tomorrow.

“We went to the gym in the morning and also did a pitch session today (yesterday). We can’t wait to get a feel of the stadium itself,” Onyango said.

The team hasn’t had too many qualms about the 24 degrees Celsius weather which Onyango termed as “good and the forecast seems favourable” all through the weekend.

RUGBY CRANES 7s TEAM
Ramathan Govule,
Phillip Wokorach,
Eric Kasiita,
Fred Odur,
Timothy Kisiga,
Lawrence Sebuliba,
Pius Ogena,
Michael Wokorach,
Adrian Kasito,
Byron Oketayot,
Solomon Okia,
Marvin Odongo