The Uganda 7s rugby team are hoping for a strong finish in the third and final leg of this year’s World Rugby Challenger Series to be hosted by Germany in Munich on May 18 and 19, 2024.

Tolbert Onyango, the coach of Uganda Cranes, in an exclusive interview with www.thesportsnewsarena.com reflected on what has been a bumpy road of near finishes in a very competitive three-leg competition staged in Dubai, Montevideo and Munich.

After narrowly missing qualifying for the knock-out stage in Montevideo, Uruguay, Uganda flew directly to Accra, Ghana for the 13th All Africa Games where 7s rugby for men and women was being staged for the first time. 

The championship in Ghana was a moment of redemption as the team went back to the drawing board to fine tune and pick up the bits and pieces. One of the aims was to correct mistakes made in the opening two tournaments. A painful exit in Uruguay was still fresh. “We did quite well in the opening two days but on the last day, the bodies were tired,”  Onyango admitted.

Crucial match

Uganda were reduced to five players in a crucial match against Kenya which they lost 5-7. “The discipline cost us. We needed calm heads.” He added there was a need for a collective responsibility because the players showed signs of frustration after coming so close. “That is when you need mental toughness. We did not play according to structure and failed to qualify.” 

It is in that state of mind that Uganda landed in Accra which was a different scenario. Uganda were back to a familiar ground facing teams they have played before. The format was similar with matches played over three days. 

In Ghana, the other top teams were Zimbabwe and Kenya although Burkina Faso who fielded a side with foreign-based players emerged as a surprise team. Zambia, Namibia and Botswana were the other  seasoned campaigners missed out. 

Burkina Faso’s success at the three-day event which saw them stun Kenya in the opening match was a result of camping four times in France where most of their players are based.

The 13th All Africa Games in Ghana rekindled a need for an African Sevens Circuit which Onyango said was long overdue. He envisaged four to five tournaments for a start with venues in North, East, Central and West Africa. 

Africa 7s circuit

It is only Africa that does not have an established circuit among the member continents of World Rugby. “If World Rugby is serious about supporting African rugby, such a circuit would be the best gift especially now that the shorter version of the game has been included in the Olympics,” the former Kenya and Mean Machine scrum-half said. 

Tentatively, Zimbabwe and Zambia could host two tournaments with Kenya and Uganda also hosting two. Tunisia or Morocco are the likely venues in North Africa. Other possible hosts are Madagascar and Mauritius. These countries have hosted tournaments organized by African Rugby. 

Onyango gave his opinion about the three-day format which is modeled on the Olympic and is currently preferred in the World Sevens Series. “It takes time to get used to the three-day tournament. It means switching on for three days and it is not easy for the top or second tier teams,” the coach stated. This is mainly because of a different vibe and conditioning needed between the matches. “It is crazy!” 

Previously, 16 teams competed over two days which was intense. “As a coach, it takes something special to keep the players focused for three days. You also need leaders in the team to execute this and it is not easy,” he admitted. The coach added: “The players need to embrace the change and adapt to the new experience. Look at the UK who have decided to have a combined team!” He predicted that the fan base shall get thinner with the new format. 

Bad start in Dubai

The coach also reviewed the first two legs in Dubai and Montevideo. “We had a bad start in Dubai but played much better in Uruguay. Already, the win in Ghana lifted the spirits of Uganda ahead of the penultimate third leg in Germany where Onyango is keen to continue the build up for the repechage in Monaco. 

He is realistic: “It is not possible to make it to the last four teams so we have a chance to fight for a place in next season’s World Series. The focus now is a good show in Germany, something we are capable of.” 

In Germany, Uruguay, Kenya, Chile, Germany and Hong Kong are likely to finish among the top four teams. “Our conditioning is much better simply because this year we have played in more than five top tournaments. Onyango will name his squad from a team of 21 who are currently in training.

Uganda has been drawn in Pool B with Hong Kong China, Tonga and Mexico. Pool A has Uruguay, Germany, Georgia and Papua New Guinea while Kenya, Chile, Portugal and Japan are grouped in Pool C. 

Uganda squad: Aaron Tukei, Gift Wokorach, Malcolm Okello, Philip Wokorach, William Lukwago, Roy Kizito, Nobert Okeny, William Nkore, Timothy Mugisha, Timothy Kisiga, Dennis Etwau, Michael Osuna, Davis Shimwa, Isaac Massa, Desire Ayera, Pius Ogena, Alex Aturinda, Aaron Ofoywroth, Adrian Kasito, Ian Munyani.