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All his life up until senior four, Alex Aturinda played football just like most boys. In 2014, while in senior four at Ntare School, he fractured his tibia during one of the football games, forcing him to retire from the sport. In fact, he is the one player that is a surprise pick for many rugby fans, considering those players left out for him. Shimwa, a 6ft 2” tall athlete, has been playing in the top flight for Rhinos since 2019.

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Japan will host the 2023 Rugby World Cup and the winner is regarded as the best rugby side on the planet. I visit home three times yearly for personal reasons and utilize the opportunity when summoned to the national rugby team. This helps me visit family especially my mother, siblings, and friends as well as my projects. Meanwhile Rams’ female side Ewes will host former champions Thunderbirds at Legends away from home.

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The super rugby competition pits the most competitive rugby nations around the world to see which club is the best. Teams from South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and Argentina travel from one continent to another fighting for glory. However, when the time comes, I will be obliged to play my last game at Kyadondo with Heathens. Their support and generosity were clear and all the visiting 13 teams and officials left Uganda in ‘high’ spirits and got a glimpse of our potential hosts for future tournaments. The fans were outstanding and never before have we witnessed such passion in various fully packed stands.

  • The curtains for the domestic season are almost rolling down but the Lady and Rugby Cranes Sevens teams are just about to start booking their flights.
  • Godwin Kayangwe, the president of the Uganda Rugby Union described the teams’ success as very exciting for the sports sector.
  • Kevin Wanyama’s elder brother admires his relentless pursuit of the sport despite opposition from the family.
  • Two years ago in Marseille, France, where the last Africa Rugby Cup was held, Uganda finished fifth.
  • Olympic bronze medallist and ATHLOS standout sprinter Brittany Brown wants Diamond League organisers to invest more in prize earnings for athletes.
  • In 2022, they represented Uganda at the World Cup qualifiers in France.
  • The only reason I defeated them was their lack of regular practice but their skill is still in tact.
  • So, I talked him into playing rugby and taught him the basics, but he was more into football,” he said.

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Like some of the girls she trains, Inusah, 28, also wears a hijab when she plays and laughs at the idea that Muslim women can’t play the sport. The Government Chief Whip, Hamson Obua in his remarks, hailed the teams and the leadership of the Uganda Rugby Union for setting a high standard in Ugandan sports. A formidable force on the pitch, combining physical strength and a reserved personality, Aturinda plays as a loose forward for the Stanbic Black Pirates and the Uganda Rugby Sevens teams. He possesses good speed, agility, and a strong ball grip, which make him fit for the role. Lubambula described Aturinda as a brilliant athlete who always wants to better himself. “All the years I coached him, he executed leadership skills and was always at the forefront of any team decision, leading his teammates to better performance,” he said.

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South Africa is returning to the Castle Rugby tournament with a mission to end New Zealand’s dominance in the competition. The stage is set for the All Blacks to prove their might in this year’s Rugby Championship. New Zealand has a strong team led by a manager who knows his way around the Castle Lager tournament.

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Now, the 14-year-old plays three games of short-format seven-a-side every week at the Kanda Cluster of Schools that she attends in the capital, Accra. One of them, Maimuna Dawda, used to watch matches on television before she got the chance to hold the oval ball for herself in 2016. While handing over the cheques to the teams, Darwin Majok, Marketing Manager at Nile Breweries commended the teams for showing a fighting spirit and raising the Ugandan flag high. The two teams last week clinched gold medals in Rugby 7s at the 13th edition of the continental event. Get the latest sports news from NewsSite about world, sports and politics.

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However, they need to beat the All Blacks away from home to prove they have a chance at winning the tournament. Los Pumas have two matches against NZ before returning home to host Australia at the end of the month. Get your tackling right, that is something that makes you big rugby player. When attacking, you must exercise a lot of discipline and attack with a lot of zeal to move forward because rugby is about moving forward and not backwards. The month-long tournament takes place every four years and nations need to qualify to make it into the competition.

  • Immersed with endless tackles and scrums, Marvin Odong, the head coach for StanbicBlack Pirates described the game as a well-fought session that managed to bring anotherwin home.
  • The former Heathens star is in high spirits and determined to raise his game after attaining a rugby A-license which allows  him to play in the top-flight rugby league in France.
  • The rugby league has a total of 13 players as opposed to 15.
  • The team made history yet again and it was sobering seeing the Minister of State for Sports Hon.
  • Rugby’s rules are designed to encourage skill, teamwork, and strategic play, while ensuring player safety as well.
  • While the position this time did not change, the performance two years on looked better.
  • Platinum Credit Heathens captain Michael Wokorach says winning the ForteBet Real Stars sports monthly award for best rugby player of April is motivation for him going into the rest of the season.

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“Outside of the game, he is a very supportive and trustworthy friend.” He is someone who will push you to be better. Heading into the Rugby Africa Cup, Algeria were ranked number 69 in the world, a whopping 33 places behind Uganda. The bottom-line is that Algeria has benefited from the fact that a host of their players, ply their trade in Europe, where the facilities and support system are good, to aid player growth. Although that may have proved to be a consolation, and clearly one many home fans possibly hang onto to ease the disappointment of not winning, Mudoola noted that the team’s struggle on defence still left him puzzled. First, the two teams are already preparing for the third and final round of the respective men’s and women’s World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger to be held in Munich, Germany and Krakow, Poland scheduled for May 18-19.

  • At a press conference to preview his side’s trip to Manchester City, Klopp spoke of how he had used that at Mainz, even making his players listen to the famous ‘Haka’ to get them pumped up before games.
  • Surprisingly, Aturinda stopped playing football and joined rugby, which is considered a dangerous game by many.
  • Watching the students from the touchline is Rafatu Inusah, who has been playing rugby since 2009 and was one of the first women in Ghana to do so.
  • Winning the Africa Cup has opened doors for the young stars.
  • Accra, Ghana

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    In the women’s competition, Australia and New Zealand “have lifted the game to new levels,” he said, with women’s rugby “driving the growth of the sport as a whole.” In the worst case scenario, Onyango and his charges will be hoping to make it to the Olympics repechage. Senegal coach Sekou Sakho on Friday revealed that the decision to include a majority of players from France was a strategic one aimed to assemble the best possible team to compete at the Rugby Africa Cup. Indeed, the Senegalese squad is dominated by players from French clubs, with 21 out of the 28 players plying their trade in the French Championship.

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    “With the preparations we have had as a team, the gel and bonding we are ready for any team that comes our way. We are coming in strong to defend our title and key for us will be team work” Black Pearls senior players Emily Lekuru revealed. The biggest game was always to be against the Kenya Shujaas. We have previously beaten Kenyan sides but they always claimed to present their 2nd teams. We clearly beat them and they were humble in defeat as we were gracious in victory. We clearly showed that we were heads and shoulders above the competition.

    Remember, this team does not also have Kelvin Balagadde, who was instrumental in last year’s success. Well, in light of that, Onyango calmed the fears when he said that Uganda now has more squad depth built at the domestic clubs. Among the 12 African teams that are going to be down in Zimbabwe, only the winner will qualify for the Olympics next year. The silver and bronze medalists will proceed to another pre-olympics qualifier known as the repechage due in June 2024.

    • Now, 16 years on, he is basking in the glory of guiding Liverpool to their first league title since 1990.
    • The 2024 Rugby Championship, which features the best national teams in the southern hemisphere, begins on August 10.
    • Aturinda was called up to the national sevens team in 2019, and he began training with them in 2020.
    • I am looking at getting agents who can link me to good rugby clubs out there.
    • “Since I was new to the fall, I swore to myself that I would take Uganda places,” Wanyama said.
    • Uganda Rugby 7s captain Michael Wokorach has led the national team to the Africa Cup trophy which earned the national team double tickets to the World Cup and the Commonwealth Games.
    • “You have made us very proud… all that training has paid off as you finally got crowned the champions of Africa,” he said.

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    The only reason I defeated them was their lack of regular practice but their skill is still in tact. I would love to play them again when their form is back like in the old days at the Namilyango Pyramid. Rugby’s rules are designed to encourage skill, teamwork, and strategic play, while ensuring player safety as well. The sport’s global popularity and the dedication of millions of players demonstrate the enduring appeal of rugby, emphasizing both its competitive nature and its commitment to sportsmanship. “I’m happy we got a win, it’s good for us but as a coach, I think we still have a lot more to do on the pitch. We have several things that we need to improve especially making sure that all the 16 men are firing.

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    However, that doesn’t mean he’s not interested in the Rugby Competition. The new squad relies on moving the ball around quickly rather than heavy contact. Previously, the team had back-to-back victories against Wales and Portugal. “I was one of the first ForteBet award winners in 2018 and winning it again is an honor. I have put in the hard shift and it will give me the zeal to keep competing,” he said. Scotland take on Wales in Cardiff on February 3, as they – like Italy – try once again to take home their first-ever Six Nations trophy.

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    In the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens’ 50-year history, we have been the event’s Official Sponsor since 1988. This injury ruled him out of games for close to three months, therefore delaying his first appearance on the national team. Because he was the only player on the team who took longer to appear, it was upsetting for him to see his teammates train and play without him. Surprisingly, Aturinda stopped playing football and joined rugby, which is considered a dangerous game by many. “When I was recovering, that was the same time my friends started persuading me into playing rugby,” he said.

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    There are many different varieties of Pool; eight-ball, blackball, nine-ball, ten-ball, seven-ball, straight pool, one-pocket and bank pool. However, it is eight-ball that is the more common game and can be played as a singles or doubles game. In 2016, nearly 400,000 African boys and girls took part in development programmes while just over 770,000 men, women and children played the sport.

    “This victory is a testament to our hard work and dedication,” said Bob Kawanda, captain of the Walukuba Barbarians. They beat Jinja Hippos in an Eastern Uganda derby as Saturday’s final lived to the expectations. Off the pitch, Sevens tournaments are known for a festive atmosphere, with raucous fans often donning fancy dress.

    • We have not been winning, we always finish the league at the 2nd position but after winning the trophy, we are excited and we are planning to win more,” Onyiru promised.
    • It’s also said that the rugby union has also not yet cleared their match day allowances.
    • The Springboks won bronze behind Great Britain who were beaten in the final by Fiji.
    • Kolbe was a member of the South Africa Sevens team that won a bronze medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.
    • In 2019, he played his first World Cup qualifier against the Namibia team in Namibia.
    • The tournament will be played from September 6-8 in Modimolle Municipality, Northern Province of South Africa.
    • Unlike in 2022, when the team was hurriedly assembled, coach Fred Mudoola, who had also just been appointed, did not have ample time to prepare his charges.
    • The most important one is financial discipline since accountability must be given after one’s professional career.

    The fans braved the Day 2 downpour and it was clear that something big was bound to happen. In 2019, he played his first World Cup qualifier against the Namibia team in Namibia. “Since I was new to the fall, I swore to myself that I would take Uganda places,” Wanyama said. In 2022, they represented Uganda at the World Cup qualifiers in France.

    • We are doing good with the little we are receiving, if it’s made better, then we shall we able to show the world that Uganda has very good talent.
    • However, they need to beat the All Blacks away from home to prove they have a chance at winning the tournament.
    • Ghana is a member of Rugby Africa, one of the six regional associations of World Rugby, which organises games the length and breadth of the continent.
    • Arguably the world’s best 15-a-side player, France’s Dupont will be the biggest draw after controversially pulling out of the Six Nations to focus on Olympic glory.
    • The Women’s rugby league defending champions Black Pearls have sent out a statement on their readiness to defend the Women’s Rugby Premiership League this year.
    • Each rugby tournament has specific betting options that cater to the type of matches that are played.
    • For most, the Sports Gala as is foundly called is a time to rekindle old friendships, catch up and reminisce on the good old times and also network both on and off pitch.

    The organisers of the sevens, Walukuba Rugby Club made a big stride over the weekend after meeting HRH The Kyabazinga of Busoga William Gabula Nadiope IV to discuss rugby development. Union CEO Isaac Lutwama unveiled plans to construct a formidable XVs team within the next eight years, aiming to compete in the Rugby Africa Cup once more and to secure a win. Eric Butime, Vice President of Technical, orchestrated the strategic alliance, leading to both nations penning a memorandum of understanding. Having left Uganda with a goal of winning the Africa 7s to clinch a direct ticket to next year’s Olympics, the Cranes were unable to actualize that dream. The Lady Rugby Cranes showcased their prowess, overpowering Zambia with a victory to secure a bronze medal. This achievement came despite a heavy defeat at the hands of Kenya in the semi-finals.

    In 2019, he joined the Stanbic Black Pirates, of which he has been a part since then. “At the time, the people on the team were my age, and I felt like I would easily relate https://ababet.org/ to them and fully express myself,” he said. Inevitably, that brings into focus the quality of the domestic league. The Uganda Rugby Union has a responsibility to improve it.

    However, just like any other sportsman, he says, “Sportsmen in Uganda are not yet as highly valued as compared to those in other countries,” which is a challenge. They’ll need to beat 11 others teams for the solitary remaining ticket to Paris in the Olympic Repechage set for June in Monaco, France. Besides the sevens, the highlight will be the much-awaited Rugby Africa Cup to be hosted for the first time in Uganda from July at the newly-refurbished Namboole Stadium. This edition’s inclusion of female teams from Rwanda highlighted the event’s expanding reach and inclusivity.

    The weather is not conducive, especially during winter but I had to swiftly adapt to the conditions since our season doesn’t stop be it in winter or autumn. The food too is something I had to quickly get acquainted to. I have a lot to accomplish in my career,” Wokorach stated. But despite all challenges, Wokorach feels ready to become Uganda’s biggest and most successful rugby export. Uganda rugby star Phillip Wokorach has finally settled in France.

    Since 2022 up to now, our boys always reach semi-finals and it is consistent. He started playing for Stanbic Black Pirates in his senior six vacation (2014), which he has been part of to date. When he joined Uganda Christian University (UCU) in 2015 for a Bachelor of Social Work and Social Administration, Wanyama became part of the university team. In 2017, he played for UCU, where they won the Inter-University 7s.

    That year, he was asked by the rugby captain of his house, Ernest Akorebirungi, to join their team during inter-house competitions. “I had never played rugby, but I was told that I only had to run when given the ball.” “I agreed since there wouldn’t be a lot of contact,” he said. While speaking to BBC Sport recently, Herbert Mensah, the president of Africa Rugby, spoke of how Uganda’s rugby was on the rise. But he noted that Uganda needed more international funding to realize more milestones like consistent appearance in global tournaments. Davis Shimwa, 22, is the one player on the Rugby Cranes squad that will be hoping for a debut.

    “I decided to go into the Islamic school in order to change that perception they have when you are playing rugby (that) ‘rugby is not for ladies or girls to play’,” she said. Accra, Ghana