For the past three years, Uganda has failed to crack the code to enter the Cup Final at the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s.
2023 in Monastir was a heavy 27-nil to Kenya, but felt like a recovery after missing out on the medal bracket for five years.
2024 in Accra was another defeat by an also-unanswered 19-00 score to the same opponent, Kenya, but it stung, given the team had, through their own fault, missed their flight and unfortunately suffered injuries, which handicapped them.
2025 in Nairobi hurts. It will hurt.
Because the Lady Rugby Cranes have closed the gap between themselves and their archrivals Kenya Lionesses. Recent meetings have been decided by the finest of margins which, painfully during this year’s Rugby Africa Women’s 7s, were mistakes capitalised upon. An intercept for the first try, a missed tackle for the second, and a turnover for the third.
That third try in the last play enabled Kenya to beat Uganda by 17-10, condemning Uganda to the bronze medal match.
Rugby Africa Women’s 7s – Knockout Round:
• Cup QF: Uganda 31-12 Tunisia
• Cup SF: Kenya 17-10 Uganda
• Bronze Medal Match: Uganda 38-12 Madagascar
However, the Lady Rugby Cranes dusted themselves off quickly and dispatched Madagascar in the bronze medal match.
“For me, the tournament has been a good one despite the fact that we lost one game at a very crucial moment in the dying minutes. The girls put out the best they could for the weekend, but the weekend brings the results that we have at the moment,” head coach Charles Onen said in his post-match interview.
Uganda missed out on qualification for the World Rugby HSBC Sevens Series next year which leaves the 7s program hanging in the balance.
“I think our program needs to be revamped again. We’ve put in a lot over the past years, and we reflect on where we started from and where we are now. If we stop putting in the hard work, that definitely means that we are going to put ourselves in the very deep end.
“So I think when we go back home, talk to the girls, restructure our system and then see how we can bring new girls on board. Take some time to develop more girls so that we get back to the international stage every single time stronger and better.”
South Africa were deserved champions, beating Kenya by 22-00 in the Cup Final. The Blitzboks Women, who have won every edition in which they have participated (14), did not concede a single point this weekend in Nairobi.
They also qualified for the World Rugby SVNS Series Division III next year, joining Kenya (Division II) on the international tour.
