Uganda national rugby union team

Last updated

Uganda
Flag of Uganda.svg
Nickname(s)Rugby Cranes
Union Uganda Rugby Union
Head coach Fred Mudoola
CaptainIvan Magomu Kanindo
Most caps Mathias Ochwo (51)
Top scorer Allan Musoke
Home stadiumLegends Rugby Grounds / Kyadondo Rugby grounds
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
First colours
Kit left arm.svg
Kit body.svg
Kit right arm.svg
Kit shorts.svg
Kit socks long.svg
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current43 (as of 16 January 2023)
Highest31 (2008)
Lowest68 (2004)
First international
Uganda  Flag of the Uganda Protectorate.svg 11–21 Flag of Kenya (1921-1963).svg  Kenya
(24 May 1958)
Biggest win
Burundi  Flag of Burundi.svg 0–100 Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
(11 September 2003)
Biggest defeat
South Africa Amateurs Flag of South Africa.svg 98–10 Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
(1 October 2005)
Biggest defeat by full international
Namibia  Flag of Namibia.svg 55–6 Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda
(16 June 2018)
World Cup
Appearances0

The Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958. They have not yet qualified for the Rugby World Cup.

Contents

Uganda compete annually against Kenya in the Elgon Cup and the Africa Cup. The Rugby Cranes won the CAR in 2007.

History

Uganda has a long history of rugby participation dating back to even before the first official rugby match was ever played in 1958. The Uganda Rugby Football Union (URFU) as it was known then was formed in 1955. There were no clubs formed at the time and games were frequently played between representative sides from Kenya and Tanganyika (Tanzania at the time) but most notably against the Royal Navy and some British and South African Universities.

In the early 1930s there was only one rugby club in Uganda called the "Uganda Rugby Football Club", which later became "Uganda Kobs Rugby Football Club" and then its name was changed to "Kampala Kobs Rugby Football Club". Most rugby games were played in Entebbe.

The East Africa team played some of the best sides in the world, including the British Lions in 1955, South Africa in 1961, and Wales in 1964. The three African Great Lakes countries of Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda have a long shared history of rugby. For much of their history, they have relied on each other for club, inter-district, inter-territorial and international matches, as well as combining their resources to create a regional squad called "the Tuskers".

The three East African countries, at the time, each had membership in the Rugby Football Union of East Africa (RFUEA), an umbrella union for the three nations both before and after they each achieved independence in the early 1960s. Until independence, each was regarded as a colonial possession of the British Empire rather than an independent nation.

The first official match between Uganda and Kenya took place in 1958 played in Kampala a game Uganda lost; Uganda scoring 11 points to 21 for Kenya. Uganda Rugby Union formally Uganda Rugby Football Union, become a World Rugby formally International Rugby Board affiliate in 1997 and now has a total rugby playing population of approximately 22,000.

With the formation of the Confederation of African Rugby (now known as Rugby Africa) in 2000, the Ugandan Rugby Union also became automatic full members. Uganda's biggest winning margin was to come in 2003 when Uganda beat Burundi 100-0. Uganda would later post its worst defeat in 2005 against South Africa; Uganda scored 10 points to 98 for South Africa XV.

World Cup record

YearRoundPositionGPWDLPFPA
Flag of New Zealand.svg Flag of Australia (converted).svg 1987 No qualifying tournament held
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Flag of Ireland.svg Flag of France.svg 1991 to
Flag of Wales (1959-present).svg 1999
did not enter
Flag of Australia (converted).svg 2003 to
Flag of Japan.svg 2019
did not qualify
Total0/9-------

Current squad

Uganda 2022 Africa Cup squad

Akera Komaketch, Joseph Aredo, Arthur Mpande, Asuman Mugerwa, Aziku Robert, Tawfik Bagalana, Chissano Joachim, Emmanuel Ecodu, Emong Eliphaz, Paul Epilo, Thomas Gwokto, Juuko Jude, Kanyanya Ronald, Kato Reynolds, Khani Aziziz, Colin Kimbowa, Ivan Kirabo, Saul Kivumbi , Ivan Magomu (Captain), Manano Alhaji, James Mugisha, Jacob Ochen, Uhuru Charles, Timothy Oodongo, Faragi Odugo, Pius Ogena, Okia Solomon, George Scott Olwuoch, Michael Otto, Joseph Oyet, Alema Ruhweza, Lawrence Ssebuliba, Santos Ssenteza, Wanyama Conrad, Philip Wokorach [1]

Recent results

For the 2017 series, the Africa Cup fixture between Kenya and Uganda will double up as the second leg of the Elgon Cup.

2017 Results

10 June 2017 Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg18 23Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya Legends Rugby Grounds, Kampala  
16:00 EAT (UTC+03)Try: M. Odongo 15' m
Odong 39' c
Con: P. Wokorach (1/2) 40'
Pen: P. Wokorach (2/4) 20', 27'
Report Try: Onsomu 12' c
Owilla 43' c
Con: Mukidza (2/2) 13' 44'
Pen: Mukidza (3/3) 3' 65' 67'
Referee: Jaco Kotze (South Africa)

Africa Cup

24 June 2017 Kenya  Flag of Kenya.svg33 33Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda RFUEA Ground, Nairobi  
16:00 EAT (UTC+03)Try: Ojee (2) 22' m,54' c
Amusala 31' m
Penalty try 77' c
Con: Mukidza (2/4) 55', 77'
Pen: Mukidza (3/3) 19', 40', 60'
Report Try: Uhuru 8' c
Asaba 44' c
M. Wokorach 72' c
Con: P. Wokorach (3/3) 9', 45', 73'
Pen: P. Wokorach (4/4) 5', 39', 63', 69'
Referee: Laurent Cardona (France)
1 July 2017 Senegal  Flag of Senegal.svg16 17Flag of Uganda.svg  Uganda Stade Iba Mar Doip, Dakar  
19:00 EAT (UTC+03)
15 July 2017 Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svg78 17Flag of Tunisia.svg  Tunisia Legends Rugby Grounds, kampala  
16:00 EAT (UTC+03)
22 July 2017 Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svgFlag of Namibia.svg  Namibia Legends Rugby Grounds, kampala  
5 Aug 2017 Uganda  Flag of Uganda.svgFlag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe Legends Rugby Grounds, kampala  

See also

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References

  1. "Uganda Rugby XVS Squad for Elgon Cup, Africa Cup | Bounce Nation". 28 May 2022.
  1. KAZIBWE, EDGAR. "The 9 tries that elevated Uganda Rugby Cranes to Africa Rugby Tier 1A". www.kawowo.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.
  2. Kyazze, Clive. "Uganda gains promotion to Rugby Africa Tier 1A". www.kawowo.com. Retrieved 20 April 2016.