With two weeks left to the 2024 Rugby Africa Cup, hosts Uganda Rugby Cranes are getting prepared to take on the continent’s best in the tournament that will take place between July 18th and 29th at the newly-refurbished Mandela National Stadium, Namboole.
Uganda Rugby 15s captain Ivan Magomu expressed confidence in the team’s readiness to compete at the highest level saying, “We’ve been working hard as a team, putting in the efforts to polish up for the Africa Cup.”
“We’ve focused on our game plan and invested significantly in S&C (Strength and Conditioning) to ensure we are physically prepared,” the captain added.
Echoing his captain’s sentiments, Coach Fred Alex Mudoola, the head coach of Uganda Rugby 15s, highlighted the emphasis on conditioning and skills.
“We’ve prioritized conditioning, which is crucial not only for the national team but also across Ugandan rugby clubs. We’ve dedicated significant time to improving skill levels and conditioning because if you have those two in place, everything else becomes easier.”
The 2024 Rugby Africa Cup will feature eight nations including Uganda, Burkina Faso, Namibia, Senegal, Kenya, Algeria, Ivory Coast, and Zimbabwe.
The tournament will also double as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, adding significant stakes to the competition.
According to the draws conducted by Rugby Africa, Uganda will clash with Zimbabwe in their opening match on July 20th, while other quarterfinals will see Namibia taking on Burkina Faso, Kenya facing Senegal, and Algeria battling Ivory Coast.
The newly refurbished Namboole Stadium will offer a world-class playing surface and floodfloods marking its return to hosting rugby games after 14 years since the National Rugby 7s in 2010.
Games will be held on two playing surfaces at the stadium.
The 2024 edition follows the 2022 tournament, where Namibia emerged victorious over Kenya to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Uganda will hosting this year’s competition, along with the 2025 edition.
