Uganda, Madagascar and South Africa qualified for the quarterfinals of the first leg of the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Mauritius with an unbeaten run at the pool stage.

The Rugby Cranes conceded only 17 points in their first match against Ivory Coast whom they beat 22-17 but recorded a clean sheet against vTunisia 43-0 and Burkina Faso 29-0. In the match against Ivory Coast, Ian Munyani, Dennis Etwau, Timothy Kisiga and Philip Wokorach scored one try each.

Nobert Okeny scored a hattrick against Tunisia with Adrian Kasito, Etwau and Karim Arinaitwe also crossed the try line. 

Morans, Kenya’s representatives at the tournament conceded only one try in their 5-7 loss to Madagascar. They beat hosts Mauritius 40-0 in their opening match and Nigeria 25-0. The team which has a sprinkle of players who have had a taste of top flight rugby struggled with their kicks for points.

Not in contention

South Africa, the only other unbeaten team, dropped 22 points. Both Kenya and Uganda are not in contention to qualify for one of the two slots available to Africa for the World Rugby Challenger Series. Uganda, Zimbabwe and Madagascar are likely to clinch these spots.

The two representative sides shall be decided after next weekend’s second leg on total cumulative points.

Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens in Mauritius

June 29-June 30 and July 6 and 7

Pool A: Kenya, Mauritius, Madagascar, Nigeria

Pool B: Burkina Faso, Tunisia, Uganda, Ivory Coast

Pool C: Zambia, South Africa, Algeria, Zimbabwe

Results

Pool C: Zambia 7 South Africa 31, Zimbabwe 52 Algeria 0, Zambia 34 Algeria 12, Zimbabwe 10 South Africa 19, South Africa 49 Algeria 5, Zimbabwe 29 Zambia 12.

Pool B: Burkina Faso 24 Tunisia 10, Uganda 22 Ivory Coast 17, Burkina Faso 17 Ivory Coast 12, Uganda 43 Tunisia 0, Burkina Faso 0 Uganda 29, Tunisia 7 Ivory Coast 37.

Pool A: Madagascar 34 Nigeria 14, Mauritius 0 Kenya 40, Madagascar 33 Mauritius 28, Nigeria 0 Kenya 25, Nigeria 5 Mauritius 26, Madagascar 7 Kenya 5. 

Squads

Kenya Moran: Brian Mutua, Ben Salem, Willy Mwanji, Dennis Abukuse, Elvis Olukusi, Richard Liva, Gabriel Ayimba, Harmony Wamalwa, Festus Shiasi, Joel Inzuga, Victor Odhiambo, Edmund Anya.

Rugby Cranes: Pius Ogena, Isaac Massanganzira, Ian Munyani, Philip Wokorach, Alex Aturinda, Desire Ayera, Aaron Oforywroth, Denis Etwau, Adrian Kasito, Karim Arinaitwe, Nobert Okeny, Timothy Kisiga.