Uganda’s Rugby Cranes 7s have been handed a potential route back into continental competition after Rugby Africa officially postponed the 2026 Africa Men’s Sevens tournament in Mauritius, just days after Uganda withdrew because of Ebola-related travel restrictions.
The tournament had been scheduled for June 20 and 21 at the SPARC complex in Cascavelle, Mauritius, but Rugby Africa and the Mauritius Rugby Union announced on Friday that the event would no longer proceed as planned following guidance from Mauritian health authorities.
The development comes after Uganda Rugby confirmed earlier this week that the Rugby Cranes 7s would miss the competition due to temporary entry restrictions imposed on travellers from Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and South Sudan as authorities responded to concerns surrounding the Ebola outbreak in parts of the region.
In a statement, Rugby Africa said the postponement followed a Cabinet-level review by Mauritian authorities and consultations involving the Ministry of Health and Wellness, the Ministry of Youth and Sports and tournament medical officials. Organisers said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure because of the current public health situation and concerns linked to international travel and large gatherings.
The postponement means Uganda’s exclusion from the tournament is no longer immediate, potentially opening the door for the Rugby Cranes to participate once new dates are agreed.
Rugby Africa stressed that no Ebola cases had been reported among participating teams, officials, tournament staff or within Mauritius itself. The governing body said it had already developed extensive health surveillance and risk management plans for the event but ultimately chose to follow the recommendations of local authorities.
“The Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Tournament is a key event on our calendar, and we fully understand the disappointment this decision will cause for our players, teams, officials, partners and supporters,” said Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah.
“However, this decision has been taken following formal guidance from the Mauritian authorities regarding the hosting of international events under the current public health context.”
Mensah emphasised that the competition had been postponed rather than cancelled and assured participating unions that efforts were already underway to secure alternative dates.
“This is a postponement, not a cancellation. Continuity is assured. We remain fully committed to delivering this tournament under the right conditions, and we will work closely with our partners to confirm new dates at the earliest opportunity,” he said.
The original tournament line-up featured 12 nations, including defending champions South Africa, hosts Mauritius, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Morocco, Madagascar, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast.
For Uganda, the postponement may ease fears of missing a major continental event altogether. Uganda Rugby had already indicated that discussions were ongoing with Rugby Africa regarding alternative international opportunities and possible qualification pathways.
Rugby Africa and the Mauritius Rugby Union said they are now working with the Mauritian government and World Rugby to identify new dates for the competition, with further announcements expected in the coming weeks. The decision leaves the Rugby Cranes waiting to learn whether the postponement could ultimately allow them to return to the tournament they appeared destined to miss.
