Regina Lunyolo: Shaping the field of rugby

Regina Lunyolo is a pioneer. One of the first five women to play rugby in the country, today, as a visionary and dedicated sports administrator, she has transformed women’s rugby.

Currently a member of Rugby Africa Women’s Advisory Committee, Lunyolo is the founder of Entebbe Lady Swans Rugby Club, the only female rugby club in Entebbe, and the proprietor of Sports Women Connect, an organisation that advocates for women in sports.

Balancing all these roles, she is also a mother, coach, mentor, team manager, and director. Lunyolo explains how she juggles these responsibilities, sharing insights into her passion for the sport and her commitment to empowering other women.

“I think it is by God’s grace. The tasks and responsibilities are many but because of the passion and love I have for the game, I can manage. It has been a process; from playing on the field to management, coaching, and mentoring. It has been a journey of personal growth and investing in myself to get to where I am today,” she says.

Her rugby journey began in 2002 during her last days at university. Already a sports person, at the time, she wondered what game she would concentrate on after completing her studies.

“I wanted to take on a ‘welcoming’ sport. I know people will say that rugby is masculine but it is only if you look at it that way. I find it welcoming, though. My brother (Geoffrey Mabonga) were already playing the game at Namilyango College, but I had never been attracted to it,” she recalls.

Then, her interest was sparked by a chance encounter with two rugby players who walked into TLC restaurant where she was having lunch.

“I saw the two guys walking in. They were very tall and smart and I admired them. Actually they were Brian Tabaruka and his brother, Raymond Emanzi. I asked what game they played. When they told me they were rugby players, I was intrigued,” Lunyolo says.

Asking them if women were allowed into Tabaruka’s club, Lunyolo was informed that although a few girls turned up for fitness sessions, none of them played the game.

“On January 5, 2003, I turned up at Kyadondo Rugby Club. The late James Park, who was the coach was very welcoming and invited me to join the game,” she says.

Today, Tabaruka is the chairman of Kyadondo Rugby Club and Emanzi is the president of the Jinja Rugby Club.

Tabaruka was never aware that the initial conversation with Lunyolo would lay the foundation for her becoming a prominent rugby player. His support and encouragement during that pivotal moment turned out to be a significant influence on her.

“I did not perceive that she was interested in the game but she asked a lot of questions. She seemed quite taken up by our attire. At the time, we were both playing with MTN Heathens. I was amazed when I got to know that our initial conversation sparked it all,” Tabaruka reflects,

Taking on a tough sport

By its very nature, rugby is a physically demanding and aggressive sport. It requires the player to be mentally tough at all times and can lead to many injuries due to the high amount of tackling.

Tabaruka was initially surprised that women were interested in taking up the sport. However, he quickly developed a deep respect for their commitment and passion.

“It is a contact sport, and many women fear entering that arena. We knew women were playing the game in other countries, especially in Europe, but we had never seen it ourselves. So we watched with interest as women run against each other. It was really fascinating,” Tabaruka says.

Lunyolo’s background in other sports, like handball basketball and football, helped her overcome the stereotypes that faced the first female rugby players.

“It was, and still is a challenge for girls to join this game. The stereotype is that it is a tough game, but it is not. That is what we are now trying to change the perception of parents, especially mothers, towards the game. They can encourage their daughters to join the sport,” she says.

Lunyolo was lucky that her brothers loved sports and that her mother was open towards her playing games.

“The most influential person in a girl’s sports journey is her mother. If she says you will not play, then you will not play because traditionally, a girl has roles in the home such as taking care of her siblings and cooking. Changing perceptions is a tough call,” she explains.

Due to their small numbers, the women players often had to compete against men for nearly a year.

“Playing against the ladies was quite challenging for me because their pace was noticeably slower compared to the men's teams. We had to tone down the contact situation. You cannot tackle a woman the same way you would tackle a man. We had to be extremely careful. So, we never really played a competitive game with the ladies,” Tabaruka admits.

In 2003 the women finally played their first match as a dedicated team - Thunderbirds Rugby Club. At that time, only the men’s teams received sponsorship and salaries, leaving Lunyolo and her teammates feeling overlooked.

“Our uniforms were oversized. We did not have boots and neither did we have funding or allowances. Of course, we felt bad but as the pioneers of something, you cannot focus on your challenges. We had to find ways to progress,” the sports administrator says.

Media recognition, particularly from journalists like Lilian Ikulumet at the Daily Monitor, provided motivation, keeping the women in high spirits.

“We knew Lillian would write about us after every game day. It was amazing to know that I could pick up a newspaper and see my name. It meant that we were going up,” Lunyolo says with pride.

Tackling sexism

In 2008, Lunyolo retired from playing and transitioned to refereeing, often officiating men’s matches due to the scarcity of women’s competitions. This shift was not without its challenges, as she faced disrespect from some players and violent fans.

“I faced criticism and insults from players in the premiership matches. Sexism in sport is real. The fans can be so demotivating at times. One time, I was on the line, as a referee, and instead of focusing on the game, they kept saying I had good legs,” she says.

These comments broke her heart because she believed she was doing a good job yet people were focusing on her body.

“It is the reality that fans first focus on a woman’s body before they look at what role she is playing in the game. My coach had warned me that they were going to say things, but that I should mentally block them. So, I ignored the sexist comments,” she explains.

However, with time, the intensity of the comments forced her to withdraw from the field and take on another role in the game that is now her passion.

“I said to myself that I will not be sexualised again, so I thought of other ways in which I could support the referee strand without showing up on the field. I did a World Rugby educator course for match officials and since then, I have been developing courses for match officials,” she says.

Venturing into administration

In 2008, Lunyoro founded Swans Rugby Club with the motive of encouraging more girls to join the game.

“I told the team at Thunderbirds that if we stuck together, we were not going to achieve much. We needed to speed our wings, so I chose to move to Entebbe. I was also giving back to Coach James Park who was like a father figure to us,” she reflects.

However, convincing parents to allow their daughters to join rugby was, and still, is a hurdle, alongside securing funding for the club. She later rebranded the club to Swans Sports Club to make it more inclusive.

“I felt we were ignoring the boys, yet you cannot move with one section of the population and leave the other one behind. However, the Uganda Rugby Union still has to be intentional and deliberate to ensure that female players feel comfortable and supported in their environment,” Lunyolo advises.

Today, women's rugby in Uganda is on an upward trajectory with more than eight clubs playing in the women’s top flight league. Lunyolo’s leadership and advocacy continue to pave the way for future generations, ensuring that women’s contributions to rugby are recognised and celebrated.

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