Seven members of the men’s rugby Cranes 15s team have been officially flagged off by Joseph Oluga, the National Council of Sports General Secretary in charge of administration, for a three-month high-performance camp at Harlequins Rugby Club in Pretoria, South Africa.
This camp marks a significant step in the partnership between the Uganda Rugby Union and the Blue Bulls Rugby Union of South Africa, aiming to enhance the players’ skills ahead of the Rugby Africa 15s Cup scheduled for July in Uganda.
Led by flanker Byron Oketayot, the team comprises key players such as props Ivan Kabagambe and Santos Senteza, scrum half Conrad Wanyama, 8th man Eliphaz Emong, lock Sydney Gongodyo, and hooker Faraji Odugo.
Isaac Lutwama, CEO of the Uganda Rugby Union, emphasized the importance of this partnership in developing the sport, particularly in providing players exposure to high-performance environments.
Joseph Oluga highlighted the camp as an opportunity for the team to refine their skills, stressing the importance of sports development and the need for partnerships beyond government investment.
Rogers Ssozi, the Nile Special Trade Marketing Executive, expressed optimism in the team’s performance and urged them to raise both the flag of Uganda and the Nile Special brand.
Vice-captain Byron Oketayot pledged to meet the expectations set forth, recognizing the significance of the opportunity for both the players and the nation.
Furthermore, the partnership extends to capacity-building programs for coaches, with additional players set to join the camp in May, signaling a comprehensive approach to enhancing Uganda’s rugby prowess.
