Blackrock College RFC, a 142-year-old rugby club from Ireland, are on tour in Uganda.
On Saturday evening, the rugby club played an exhibition match against a ‘Uganda All Stars’ outfit— comprising players from the national team and local clubs— at Kyadondo Rugby Club.
Despite the torrential downpour which delayed kickoff by an hour and resulted in soggy conditions at the facility, rugby fans thronged Kyadondo for the event in large numbers.
Blackrock emerged victorious by a convincing 19-08 (halftime 12-03) result.
According to coach James Blaney, the “big difference was probably our tactical kicking” which allowed his team to get a foothold early in the game.
Coach Kevin Makmot of the All Stars said, “it would be good for Uganda Rugby if we have such games” and that “we need more of these games to come in or we can bring back a ‘Uganda A’ to play such games against such teams.” Makmot said this would give the young and upcoming players a chance to showcase and be watched by the national team coaches.
This is a historic tour by all measures. Blackrock first toured Uganda in 1971 and last toured anywhere outside their country in 2001. The fifty-person travelling contingent comprised thirty-two players plus eighteen non-playing staff and fans.
The tour will next have an official dinner at the residence of the Irish Ambassador to Uganda before visiting an Irish-founded charity Nurture Africa in Nansana. Then, the party will head to Eastern Uganda where they will visit Kirinya Prison and the Spire School for the Blind. They will also hold coaching clinics in Kakira and Jinja schools and communities.
Toward the end of this coming week, they will take part in a children’s tag rugby tournament and a fun rugby 7s experience for adults.
