The Uganda Sevens team is set for a crucial test at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Challenger, which kicks off on March 1-2 at Athlone Stadium in Cape Town, South Africa.
Uganda’s men’s team, the Uganda Rugby Sevens have been drawn into Pool C alongside rugby sevens heavyweights Samoa and Brazil, while the Lady Rugby Cranes will battle it out in Pool C against Belgium and Colombia.
With promotion to the elite HSBC SVNS series at stake, Uganda must finish among the top eight teams after the first two rounds in Cape Town to advance to the final Challenger event in Krakow, Poland, on April 11-12.
The four best-performing teams across all three tournaments will then proceed to the HSBC SVNS Playoff in Los Angeles on May 3-4, where they will face off against the lowest-ranked teams from the core series for a shot at promotion.
Uganda’s men will have to navigate a tough group that includes Samoa, a powerhouse in the sevens game, and Brazil, a team known for its rapid development in recent years.
They will be aiming to secure a top-two finish in the pool to boost their chances of progressing further in the tournament.
In the women’s category, Uganda faces Belgium and Colombia in Pool C.
Belgium’s captain, Pauline Gernaey, emphasized the importance of playing in a global tournament, saying, “These tournaments and playing against countries from around the world with different playing styles will help us grow as a team.”
Uganda will be looking to prove themselves against strong opposition as they aim for a spot in the knockout stages.
The Challenger series, introduced in 2020, serves as a development pathway for teams aspiring to break into the top tier of international rugby sevens.
Previous editions have seen teams like Kenya and Uruguay successfully earn promotion, setting a precedent that Uganda hopes to follow.
