Uganda has been a revelation according to several rugby enthusiasts in Dubai for the HSBC World Series and Dr. Ben Corbett is one of them.
The lecturer at Loughborough University London’s new Institute for Sports Business currently leading a study on behalf of World Rugby to aid in developing their strategy around high performance of rugby sevens, believes there should be a second tier 2 for countries like Uganda.
Despite losing to South Africa in the opener 46-00, USA 29-07, Scotland 35-14, Samoa 27-19 and Canada 17-20, Uganda stepped up performances from their first on-wards.
Tolbert Onyango’s men defeated Japan 19-26 in the last stages to claim a historic win.
In a tweet, Ben, a PhD holder in strategic sport management said Uganda registered a “Fantastic improvement” clearly outlining the need for a tier 2 phase in the World Rugby competition.
“Uganda provides more evidence of dire need for Tier 2 @WorldRugby7s series! Fantastic improvement from match 1 to 6.”
Uganda provides more evidence of dire need for Tier 2 @WorldRugby7s series! Fantastic improvement from match 1 to 6.
— Ben Corbett (@SevensPhD) December 3, 2016
Uganda qualified for the World Series after winning the Africa Cup 7s. Onyango’s men defeated Namibia 19-38 off downing power house Zimbabwe at the group stage.
Cranes also knocked out defending champions, hosts and favourites Kenya in the semifinals.
Dr. Ben Corbett (Courtesy of Loughborough University London website)
Dr Ben Corbett spent 15 years working in the American sport industry before relocating to Australia for a PhD in strategic sport management.
Ben played Rugby in the USA and Australia for 18 years, including 7 Sevens tours across the globe.
Ben’s PhD investigated the inclusion of rugby in the Olympic Games, and the impact this development had on a variety of nations across the world.
This research led Ben to complete an official World Rugby study in 2015, which focused on Rugby Sevens’ high performance training regimes.
Ben’s research aims to uncover how national governing unions and their members can use the Rugby World Cup to increase involvement and participation in rugby.
