In preparation for the 2023 Rugby Afrique Women’s Sevens, the Lady Rugby Cranes 7s have entered their training camp. The tournament is set to take place in Jemmal, Tunisia, marking its fifth occurrence in the past decade. Scheduled for October 14th and 15th, this two-day event is significant for the Ugandan team.
Uganda had previously come close to securing the championship in 2008, but they lost to South Africa 24-0 in the final match. However, this loss did not deter them, as they later qualified for the Dubai World Cup the following year. In 2018, during the Gaborone event, they faced a 27-7 loss to rivals Kenya. Last year, in Jemmal, the Lady Cranes finished in fourth place after losing to the host nation, Tunisia, in the bronze final, which also doubled as the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens.
This year, the stakes are higher, with the winning team in Tunisia earning a direct slot in the 2024 Paris Olympic Games. Head coach Charles Onen has been leading the team through an extensive five-month training program, which includes both residential and non-residential phases. Before heading to their final residential camp in Entebbe, the team of 12 players conducted their last training session at Kyadondo Rugby Club in Kampala.
Kigongo Ssebalamu, the strength and conditioning coach, assessed the team’s strength at 85%, noting that the remaining 15% would be addressed in the final days of preparation. The strength and conditioning department has been identified as an area that has historically held Uganda back from reaching its full potential on both the continental and world stages.
Coach Onen revealed the final squad of 12 players last Sunday, which includes two rookies: Grace Nabbagala from Lady Pacers and Sarah Kirabo from Avengers. The rest of the squad comprises Nakuya Agnes (Thunderbirds), Auma Grace (Black Pearls), Namabiiro Lydia (Black Pearls), Lekuru Peace (Avengers), Kirabo Sarah (Avengers), Najjuma Yvonne (Thunderbirds), Ayot Mary Gloria (Thunderbirds), Nassozi Maimunah (Avengers), Amoli Lona Sandra (Thunderbirds), Nadunga Rittah (Black Pearls), Nabaggala Grace (Lady Pacers), and Mufuwa Rachel (Black Pearls).
Veteran players Asha Nakityo (Thunderbirds), Tina Akello (Nile Rapids), and Pauline Bankabwire from Nile Rapids were not selected for the final squad. Onen emphasized that the selection of the team was based on their performance in the extensive training sessions conducted over the past six months.
In the upcoming tournament, Uganda finds itself in Group A, which is considered a challenging group, featuring host Tunisia, defending champions South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Group B consists of Madagascar, Kenya, Zambia, and Ghana.
