Uganda Cranes will barely have time to recover from the World Rugby Sevens Repechage qualifier in Monaco before boarding another flight to Mauritius to play in the Rugby Africa Sevens championship.

The winner of the tournament in Mauritius will play in next year’s Challenger Series. When the time comes, Tolbert Onyango, the Uganda Cranes coach exclusively told www.thesportsnewsarena.com he intends to make two or three changes to the current squad for rotation purposes.

This is what he did when he rested some of his charges for the third leg of the Challenger Series in Munich, Germany in anticipation of a tough outing in Monaco where 12 teams were in contention for that remaining slot of the Olympics. Already, Uganda Cranes flew directly to Ghana’s capital Accra to play in the All Africa Games.

On Sunday, Uganda Cranes have an uphill task against an opponent Onyango acknowledges as the ‘big brother’ South Africa in the quarterfinal of a winner-takes-it-all clash. Uganda qualified for the knockout stage from a tough Pool  B that had Canada – a former World Rugby Sevens core team, Great Britain – a core team – and China. 

Must win scenario

They lost the opening match against an efficient Great Britain and Canada before facing China for the first time in a must win scenario. Onyango admitted China were worthy opponents who gave as much as they took. It was only in the second half that Uganda unlocked what had been a solid Chinese defense through Adrian Kasito, Timothy Kisiga and Philip Wokorach.  

Up to the second day in Monaco, Onyango has seen a steady growth in the team this season and feels they are capable of giving a good account of themselves. For the first time, the players have been exposed to many competitions in the Challenger Series, All Africa Games, Africa Cup and the qualifiers in Monaco.

“There has been a steady growth and with that comes an awareness of what it feels like to play at the top level,” Onyango offered. Although there will be a quick turnaround before the next assignment, Uganda’s focus is on the match against South Africa on Sunday.

The players are aware of the task ahead after facing two other competitive teams that have been part of the World Series – Canada and Great Britain. In Monaco, the commentators also admitted that Uganda would be tough to beat when playing well.

She Cranes

It is not only the men’s team in Monaco because Uganda’s She Cranes are also in contention for an Olympic slot. The team coached by Charles ‘Bishop’ Onen won all their Pool E matches against Jamaica, Paraguay and Hong Kong China. The men’s team was on the terraces when the women played against Hong Kong China.

Onyango was full of praise for the women’s team captained by Peace Lekuru. “We are so pleased with their achievements,” the coach stated.

The talk about Mauritius had been relegated to the back of the mind for now but Uganda Cranes will barely have time to switch off their engines before revving up for the next challenge. Playing in the Challenger Series, All Africa Games, Africa Cup and the Repechage has given Uganda the much needed exposure.

Uganda results 

Women

Pool E: Hong Kong China, Jamaica, Paraguay, Uganda

Hong Kong China 33 Paraguay 15, Uganda 29 Jamaica 0, Hong Kong China 22 Jamaica 12, Uganda 24 Paraguay 0, China 26 Poland 0, Paraguay 36 Jamaica 21, Uganda 17 Hong Kong China 14. 

Men

Pool B: Canada, China, Great Britain, Uganda

Canada 31 Uganda 12, Great Britain 35 China 19, Canada 33 China 14, Great Britain 29 Uganda 5, Uganda 33 China 15, Great Britain 17 Canada 14.

Quarter finals

Women: China v Paraguay, Czechia v Uganda, Kenya v Argentina, Poland v Hong Kong China 

Men: South Africa v Uganda, Great Britain v Tonga, Spain v Hong Kong China, Canada v Chile.