Uganda Rugby Union has released the plans for the first women’s rugby tournaments in the post-COVID era. The women’s return-to-rugby will be played in the Eastern, Northern and Central regions starting from April 17, 2021.
Eastern Region will get the ball rolling with the first tournament in Mbale City hosted by the Eagles in Mbale on Saturday, April 17, 2021. Two other tournaments will be hosted by Bumageni and Bugema on the following weekends.
- Eastern Region: Mbale Eagles, Bugema, Bumageni, Nyondo.
Northern Region will get underway later on Saturday, April 24, 2021 with four teams from the districts of Lira, Kitgum and Gulu.
- Northern Region: Lira Matrix, Aduku Tigers, Kitgum Queens, Gulu Sprinters.
Three tournaments will be held in the Central Region on three straight weekends starting from Sunday, April 18, 2021. These will be hosted at Entebbe Works Grounds by Lady Swans, Kings Park Stadium by Black Diamonds, and Entebbe SS Playground by Avengers.
Seven teams registered for the Central Region tournament, and have been grouped into two tiers.
- Tier 1: Avengers, Black Pearls, Thunderbirds.
- Tier 2: Blue Whales, Black Diamonds, Ewes, Lady Swans.
The Tier 1 teams played in the 2020 Central Region Women’s 15s Championship that was won by Thunderbirds on points difference. Tier 2 includes two Entebbe-based clubs Blue Whales and Lady Swans, Black Diamonds (Black Pearls’ development side) from Kings Park Stadium and men’s premier league club Rams’ ladies outfit Ewes from Makerere Rugby Grounds.
World Rugby and Rugby Africa Unstoppables, Lucky Nirere and Samiya Ayikoru, will take part in this tournament. Nirere will be playing in her first-ever competitive tournament with Blue Swans while Ayikoru will be turning out for her long-time club Thunderbirds.
The women’s return-to-rugby season will conclude with a national finals tournament that will feature the top performing teams from the respective regions.