The Ugandan Rugby team has defeated 13 countries in grand style to win the 2022 Africa Rugby 7s.
In a game that concluded 22-12, Kenya was ousted by Uganda, who played on a saturated turf.
At home, the Rugby Cranes remained composed and improved game by game, defeating Zimbabwe 26-0 to win the championship.
“We have had three months of training, hard training for this tournament. And I think today we have come out and showed that the hard work has paid off and I am very excited about the boys.” Mike Wokorach, captain, Uganda’s rugby 7s team said.
Hilton Mudariki, captain of Zimbabwean team was however not happy about the turnout of events.
“Yes, bad result, I mean we could have done better but well done from day one up to now, we put up a good fight.”
The Rugby 15s World Cup qualifications will be place in France, but Kampala will once again demonstrate Africa’s potential to host the event.
The sports in Africa preserves the neutrality of the host country while ensuring the attendance of more fans.
“The level has really pushed up. The teams have worked hard. Every team has put a lot of effort, but it was nice to see Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, and Zambia really push themselves higher. It was a very good presentation of Rugby.” Andrew owor, vice president, rugby Africa.
Uganda, like Zimbabwe and Kenya, has a difficult season ahead of them in terms of tournament preparation. They have only a few months to be in condition to compete with Fiji, the United Kingdom, Samoa, and New Zealand.
“We are just going back to the drawing board and train as much as we can because the scenes we are going to are the world scenes, World Cup, Commonwealth. Those are big scenes we are playing with the best teams in the world and definitely we have to go and match up.” Mike Wokorach captain, Uganda rugby 7s team.
14 teams took part in the tournament including rising stars Burundi, Senegal and Burkina Faso drawing a promising scene and more representation of the continent at the International Rugby Board circuit.
“It is a matter of time for these countries to get more experience and be able to push. So rugby in Africa in terms of Sevens has actually gone up, and we need to have more of these tournaments on the African continent. At least once or twice a year we should be having a series.” William Blick, member, international Olympic committee/former rugby player.
The Uganda National 7s team is a national sevens side. One of Uganda’s biggest accomplishments has been to win a berth at the 2016 Dubai Sevens.
The 2022 Africa Men’s 7s are an annual African rugby sevens tournament that took place at the Kyadondo Rugby Club, Kampala between 23 and 24 April 2022; they were held in Uganda for the second time. The top three teams qualified for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Cape Town; in addition, the top two Commonwealth teams not already qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games via the World Rugby Sevens Series booked their places in Birmingham.
Fourteen teams participated in the tournament, including 2019 champions Kenya