The Uganda Rugby Cranes 7s have officially been ejected from the Rugby Africa 7s to be held this June in Mauritius.
Uganda has been replaced by Senegal in Group B, after Mauritius Rugby announced that the Cranes would not be able to participate due to the travel restrictions imposed on Uganda because of the Ebola Virus outbreak.
Uganda’s 5th-place finish at the 2025 edition of the tournament saw them missing out on the qualification spot for the HSBC Division III, a target Uganda Rugby had set its sights on ahead of the 2026 Rugby Africa 7s.
In an official Press Statement, Uganda Rugby indicates that discussions are ongoing with the Rugby Committee and Rugby Africa to draw a possible pathway to qualification for the HSBC Division III.
The HSBC Division III is a tournament that Uganda Rugby had earmarked to host in early 2027, but that now seems unlikely as Uganda faces a stumbling block in qualification and ultimately competing.
As it stands, players in camp, whose clubs are still participating in the National 15s league, will automatically return to their teams to complete the season.
That leaves the Black Pirates, Heathens and Buffaloes with fully constituted squads, while Impis will have to look within their ranks to bolster their squad.