• Latest
‘Just Get the Ball and Run’: How Alex Aturinda Fell in Love with Rugby

‘Just Get the Ball and Run’: How Alex Aturinda Fell in Love with Rugby

3 weeks ago
Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

6 hours ago
Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

6 hours ago
Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

7 hours ago
Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

7 hours ago
Ali Tomusange: Uganda’s World Cup Referee Urges FUFA to Modernize Refereeing Standards

Ali Tomusange: Uganda’s World Cup Referee Urges FUFA to Modernize Refereeing Standards

8 hours ago
Sir Gareth Southgate Knighted

Sir Gareth Southgate Knighted

8 hours ago
Hoima City Main Stadium Construction Will be Completed Next Month – Contractors

Hoima City Main Stadium Construction Will be Completed Next Month – Contractors

13 hours ago
Arsenal to Sign Chelsea Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga

Arsenal to Sign Chelsea Goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga

14 hours ago
Alionzi Rallies Uganda Ahead of CHAN 2024, Calls It a Defining Moment

Alionzi Rallies Uganda Ahead of CHAN 2024, Calls It a Defining Moment

14 hours ago
Lallana Retires, Transitions to Coaching at Southampton

Lallana Retires, Transitions to Coaching at Southampton

14 hours ago
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Thursday, June 26, 2025
  • Home
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Netball
  • Cricket
  • Motorsport
No Result
View All Result
NBS Sport
  • Home
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Netball
  • Cricket
  • Motorsport
No Result
View All Result
NBS Sport
No Result
View All Result
Home Rugby

‘Just Get the Ball and Run’: How Alex Aturinda Fell in Love with Rugby

Samuel Ssensaga by Samuel Ssensaga
June 4, 2025
in Rugby
0 0
0
‘Just Get the Ball and Run’: How Alex Aturinda Fell in Love with Rugby

Stanbic Black Pirates player and national rugby sevens captain Alex Aturinda has opened up about his remarkable journey into the sport, one that began unexpectedly in secondary school and has taken him to the very top of Ugandan rugby.

Aturinda, speaking to NBS Sport, revealed that he initially started out as a footballer, representing Ntare School in post-primary competitions between 2013 and 2014.

RelatedPosts

Okello Top Points Scorer As Uganda Settle For 5th Place In Rugby Africa 7s

“Rugby Cranes Need You” – Kiwanuka Rallies Country Ahead of Africa Cup

Uganda Rugby Union Engages Speke Resort Ahead of Rugby Africa Cup

His introduction to rugby came courtesy of then-house captain Ernest Akorebirungi, who convinced him to participate in inter-house sevens tournaments.

“He just told me, ‘get the ball and run until you reach the try line’,” Aturinda recalled.

“Back then, we didn’t play rugby because we were good. It was about scoring points for our house in all kinds of sports. I didn’t even know if it was safe for someone to bump into you and throw you to the ground.”

After a brief flirtation with the sport, Aturinda stepped away, until 2015, when he joined Mbarara High School.

There, he shared a room with Andrew Bamwesigye, also known as Bombaz, who was then captain of the school rugby team. It was Bombaz who reignited Aturinda’s rugby journey.

“Being in the same room, he made sure not to leave me behind,” said Aturinda. “He kept convincing me and, like they say, rugby is that toxic partner who gets you hooked the first time.”

That year, Aturinda helped Mbarara High beat his former school, Ntare, for the first time in what he believes may have been a historic win.

He also won a silver medal in the East African Schools Sevens, hosted in Gulu, a proud moment that saw him recognised at a school assembly.

Though he took a break from rugby in 2016, Aturinda resumed playing in 2017 when he joined Uganda Christian University (UCU).

While initially focused on football, it was again a teammate, Paul Kalunji, now of Rhinos RFC, who pushed him back towards rugby.

“Kalunji kept on my case. He motivated me every day and got me into a routine,” Aturinda said. “Before training, we’d do a personal warm-up, sometimes a 2km run. It became part of me.”

He played for the UCU Shepherds in 2017 and then moved to Walukuba RFC, helping the side reach the Uganda Cup Shield final against Rams at Kyadondo. Despite a tough season that ended in relegation, Aturinda knew he belonged in the top tier.

“I had a discussion with Coach Leo at Walukuba and told him I wanted to join the Black Pirates. It wasn’t easy, but he gave me his blessing.”

Aturinda eventually joined the Pirates in the 2017/2018 season, cementing his place in top-flight rugby and rising through the ranks to captain the national sevens team.

His journey, marked by injuries, career switches, and constant persuasion, has been anything but straightforward, but Aturinda now stands as one of Uganda’s premier rugby talents, a symbol of resilience and adaptability.

Tags: Uganda Rugby Premiership
ShareTweetSendSendShare
Next Post
Djokovic Downs Norrie, Reaches French Open Quarter-Finals

Djokovic Downs Norrie, Reaches French Open Quarter-Finals

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Connect with us

  • 87.1k Followers
  • 23.9k Followers
  • Trending
  • Comments
  • Latest
FIFA Bans Uganda Cranes Captain’s Club

FIFA Bans Uganda Cranes Captain’s Club

November 12, 2024
AFCON 2025 Q: Why Onana Left Namboole Before The Rest Of His Teammates

AFCON 2025 Q: Why Onana Left Namboole Before The Rest Of His Teammates

September 11, 2024
Florentino Perez Singles Out Uganda in Ballon d’Or Voting Criticism

Florentino Perez Singles Out Uganda in Ballon d’Or Voting Criticism

November 24, 2024
Uganda Among 62 Nations Yet to Have a Capped Player in the English Premier League

Uganda Among 62 Nations Yet to Have a Capped Player in the English Premier League

January 29, 2025
Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to Co-Host CHAN 2024 in February 2025

Uganda, Kenya, and Tanzania to Co-Host CHAN 2024 in February 2025

8
FUFA Strips KCCA of Points, Suspends Referee Over Rule Violations

FUFA Strips KCCA of Points, Suspends Referee Over Rule Violations

3
CHAN 2024: CAF Unveils New Trophy and Logo Ahead of Draw

Groups Announced for CHAN 2024

3
Rugby Cranes’ Ivan Magomu Suspended, Stripped of Captaincy Following Disciplinary Hearing

Rugby Cranes’ Ivan Magomu Suspended, Stripped of Captaincy Following Disciplinary Hearing

2
Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

June 25, 2025
Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

June 25, 2025
Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

June 25, 2025
Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

June 25, 2025

Recommended

Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

Tanzania: Four League Titles in a Row for Aucho and Yanga

June 25, 2025
Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

Ronaldo Nears New Al-Nassr Deal

June 25, 2025
Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

Navio Calls for Serious Investment in CHAN, Local Talent, and Sports Reforms

June 25, 2025
Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

Arsenal Close in on Norgaard Signing in Midfield Overhaul

June 25, 2025
NBS Sport

© 2022 NBS Sport - Developed and maintained by Hillcom EA.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password? Sign Up

Create New Account!

Fill the forms below to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Football
  • Rugby
  • Basketball
  • Athletics
  • Boxing
  • Golf
  • Netball
  • Cricket
  • Motorsport

© 2022 NBS Sport - Developed and maintained by Hillcom EA.