The Uganda 7s have experienced a slow decline since winning the 2024 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s over two weekends in Mauritius.
Since then, the nation has consistently sent emerging sides to tournaments like the Safari 7s, recording disastrous results. At the 2025 Rugby Africa Men’s 7s, Uganda brought back a few big guns like Norbert Okeny and Alex Aturinda, but only managed a 5th place finish.
South Africa ‘A’ and Kenya ‘Morans’, whose senior teams the Blitzboks and Shujaa were already in the HSBC Division I and II respectively, only showed up to grow, while Madagascar’s Makis wanted the tournament more and finished ahead of Uganda. This earned the island nation the much-coveted ticket to the HSBC Division III.
Qualify for HSBC Division III
Anything less than winning the Rugby Africa Men’s 7s 2026 would put Uganda in a sticky situation. At the very least, Uganda has to finish third, with the finalists being Kenya and South Africa, who are already in the HSBC Series.
In order to keep alive Uganda’s aspirations of hosting the HSBC Division III next year at Hoima City, the Rugby Cranes 7s have to come through big in Mauritius this June.
To do that, players like former skipper Ian Munyani and Aaron Ofoyrwoth have been called back to the squad, while France-based duo of Adrian Kasito and Philip Wokorach are expected to join the squad later.
Future of Rugby Africa 7s Series
The Uganda Rugby Union is intent on Uganda being at the heart of the proposed Rugby Africa 7s Series. URU, with her partners, the Government of Uganda and sponsors like Nile Breweries Limited and Harris International, have demonstrated not only the willingness to host international tournaments, but also the ability to do so.
The proposed Rugby Africa 7s Series shall be played in a two-tier system, with the already established nations like Uganda, Kenya, South Africa and Zimbabwe playing in the continental top tier, while emerging nations shall play in their respective regions.
According to the Rugby Africa President Herbert Mensah, the rationale for this African Series is to prepare African teams better for the international stages like the HSBC World 7s Series and the World Rugby 7s Cup.