Young Rugby Cranes fail Africa test

Morocco ended Uganda’s interest in the Confederation of Africa Rugby tournament with a narrow 12-5 victory in the Plate semifinals.

Head coach Tolbert Onyango will perhaps be quick to remind everyone that the current Rugby Cranes 7s is a four-year project and not a two-day miracle.

His team got knocked out of the Plate semifinals of the Confederation of Africa Rugby (CAR) 7s tournament in the hot and humid Mombasa, Kenya yesterday following a 12-5 loss to Morocco.

This was Uganda’s first 7s assignment since the shorter code was re-packaged recently with a new coaching team appointed, young players selected and detached from the 15s version. The experiment or rather fresh start went well on Day One – Saturday. Rugby Cranes beat Nigeria 5-0 and Senegal to advance from pool C along with Madagascar, 24-0 winners over Uganda.

It was surely looking good for skipper Alfred Bijik and his teammates, most of whom were playing in their first international tournament.
Optimism crept in but a Main Cup quarterfinal matchup with Madagascar quickly eroded it. The islanders beat Uganda 12-5 to push Onyango’s team into the second tier competition – the Plate.

Morocco ended Uganda’s interest with a narrow 12-5 victory in the Plate semifinals.

“The goal now is to play in as many tournaments as possible and play in the World Series,” Uganda’s team manager Godwin Kayangwe told Daily Monitor prior to departure.

The 7s team is at least guaranteed participation in the annual Kenya Safaricom 7s but it’s the invitations to play in Zambia, Morocco and elsewhere that will determine the commitment levels.

There were better days for the 7s when the national team got invitations to play on the IRB World Sevens Series circuit in Dubai and South Africa, and played well at the Commonwealth Games.
The long journey to get back to that level started over the weekend. This was only the first step.

CAR 7s RESULTS

POOL C
Nigeria 5-10 Uganda
Uganda 0-24 Madagascar
Uganda 12-5 Senegal

MAIN CUP QUARTERS
Uganda 5-12 Madagascar
PLATE SEMIFINAL
Uganda 5-12 Morocco

UGANDA’S 7S TEAM
Alfred Bijik (captain/Buffaloes), Emmanuel Echodu (Impis), Ezekiel Okol(Buffaloes), Charles Uhuru (Buffaloes), Ramathan Govire (Kobs), James Ijongyat (Kobs), Gabriel Aredo (Warriors), Jasper Ochen (Heathens), Charles Chandia (Pirates), Philip Pariyo (Buffaloes), Keith Seruyange (Impis), Charles Onenchan (Buffaloes)
Head coach: Tolbert Onyango.
Team manager: Godwin Kayangwe Arinaitwe.
Doctor: Tonny Stone Luggya

ikigongo@ug.nationmedia.com