Uganda Men have nothing to lose or gain in the 2024 World Rugby HSBC 7s Challenger Series. They can no longer qualify for the Grand Finale to play for promotion to the SVNS Series and there is no relegation to worry about either.
So, with the matters of life and death out of the way, head coach Tolbert Onyango has released the nucleus of his squad back to their parent clubs. Seven players will be available for the remainder of the local championship playoffs season.
lan Munyani, Adrian Kasito, Pius Ogena, Isaac Massanganzira, Timothy Kisiga, Desire Ayera, and Aaron Ofoyrwoth are now free to feature for their clubs with effect immediately.
Team News from the respective clubs
The seven players are from three clubs which are still competing in the Nile Special Rugby Championship Playoffs.
Ayera and Kisiga will feature for Black Pirates against Rhinos, Kasito and Munyani for KOBs against Mongers, and Ofoyrwoth for Heathens against Walukuba. All will come off the bench to make their first appearances this season during the second round of the quarterfinals.
Ogena and Massanganzira have not been named on their teams’ squads for this round.
All the aforementioned players, apart from Kisiga, last played XVs rugby during the 2023 league. This was on May 13 during the season finale. Kisiga featured for the Rugby Cranes during the Victoria Cup, the Elgon Cup, and Tunisia tour in November last year.
According to an official communication sent to the clubs from Uganda Rugby Union, which Kawowo Sports has seen, the players will rejoin the 7s programme after four weeks on June 1, 2024. This will be just in time to get ready for the Olympic Games Repechage and the Rugby Africa 7s.
Championship Playoffs Quarterfinals – Round Two Fixtures:
- QF 1 – Legends: KOBs vs Mongers
- QF 2 – Walukuba: Walukuba vs Heathens
- QF 3 – Kyadondo: Buffaloes vs Hippos
- QF 4 – Kings Park: Pirates vs Rhinos
All matches will kick off at 4 p.m. EAT (local time).
The other players still part of the 7s camp will continue training for the final round of the 7s Challenger in Munich, Germany on May 18-19, 2024.
