Kenya Lionesses success in the first leg of the 2025 World Rugby Challenger Series has inspired other two African teams, Madagascar and Uganda to raise the tempo in the second leg that kicks off on Friday, March 7 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.

Tolbert Onyango, the Uganda Seven’s men’s team coach said Kenya’s performance was a culmination of hard work that was worth emulating by other teams. “We have seen steady progress by the team that was rewarded with a podium finish. It is good for the region,” Onyango said.

Uganda’s two teams have a monumental task of finishing among the top eight in the men’s and women’s categories to proceed to the third leg in Poland in May. After the opening leg, Madagascar and Uganda barely managed to stay among the top eight teams.

The men’s team has a tougher challenge in a Pool that has Samoa and Canada while the women’s team play against Kenya and Belgium.

Brutal format

The coach acknowledged that the format was ‘brutal’ and you have to keep winning to survive the next match. Onyango’s task has been made harder from a challenge faced by second tie countries who often have to share the player base between the 15’s and 7’s categories. 

Uganda men’s team in Cape Town has been drawn from the wider squad with most of the players making their debut. Onyango explained that a decision was made by the Uganda Rugby Union to boost the 15’s team with some of the regular 7’s players. The 15’s team is preparing for a Rugby World Cup qualifier tournament in Kampala in July. 

This is why some of the familiar names are missing from Onyango’s roster. “We had to pick new players from the wider squad who have not had much international experience and knew the going would be tough,” the coach explained in an interview from their base in Cape Town. 

Inadequate preparations

Also, the team had barely three weeks to prepare for the Challenger Series. This was barely adequate for the technical bench to develop a structure and the players to know one another. “It is a new territory for us and it will be a tough day one although our objective remains getting in the top eight. We have one foot in the door at the moment,” Onyango admitted. 

But, Uganda is also realistic about their chances considering the caliber of teams in the men’s category. “It is tough and look at the other teams, Samoa, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Portugal, Georgia….Then you have Madagascar who remain very impressive,” Onyango observed. The coach added that the intensity in Cape Town was much higher than what his players were accustomed to at the national circuit back home. 

Solid commitment

What it required was good preparations and a solid commitment with a tough mental approach since missing out on Poland could mean a long wait for the players to the next competition. Onyango quipped that a ‘good’ sisterly exchange shall punctuate the match between Kenya Lionesses and Uganda in the women’s category. “Kenya has been very consistent and Mwanja appears to have steered the ship well,” Onyango commented. When Uganda faces Tonga in the first match, Onyango would like an improved performance to keep alive their hopes for a top finish.

Men’s draw and order of play

Pool A: Chile, Japan, Hong Kong China

Pool B: Canada, Uganda, Tonga

Pool C: Germany, Madagascar, Georgia

Pool D: Samoa, Portugal, Brazil

Portugal v Brazil, Madagascar v Georgia, Uganda v Tonga, Japan v Hong Kong China, Samoa v Brazil, Germany v Georgia, Canada v Tonga, Chile v Hong Kong China, Samoa v Portugal, Germany v Madagascar, Canada v Uganda, Chile v Japan.

Saturday, March 8, 2025

Men

Ninth place semi-finals: B3 v C3, A3 v D3.

Fifth place semi-finals: B2 v C2, A2 v D2.

Cup semi-finals: B1 v C1, A1 v D1