Peter Ofong
10 October 2008
column
Kampala — IN THE RUCK
ANOTHER RWC qualifier is round the corner and this time it's the men. The women did their part in making history by qualifying for the first women's sevens RWC to be held Dubai, actually alongside the men's version.
Uganda's achievements in fifteens have not been matched by the sevens.
There has been preference for the longer code of the game over the shorter code but the tide now seems to be changing.
The national rugby body URU in partnership with uganda telecom have finally realised the need to start re-building the sevens game.
It is against this backdrop that the rugby Cranes are outsiders to qualify for one of the three slots reserved for Africa in the RWC qualifiers to be held later this month in Tunisia.
It is rare for the national team not to be among the top seeds in any rugby tournament on the continent except for sevens of course.
To qualify, Uganda has to upset anyone of the favourites Kenya, Zimbabwe and hosts Tunisia in the knock-out phases.
These teams have been preparing for these qualifiers for over a year, regularly competing in international tournaments like the IRB sevens circuit.
Uganda unfortunately cannot boast of having such exposure and training.
However, with self belief and determination, Uganda can surprise these fancied opponents. Such is the unpredictability of sevens rugby, top seeds can be upset by minnows.
In 2004 in Dubai, Uganda caused an upset by defeating France, some remnants of that squad like Allan Musoke and Robert Seguya are still on team to provide the necessary motivation.
Build for the future
Whatever the results in Tunis, there must be continuity if local sevens rugby is to improve.
URU should fix an annual international sevens calendar that stretches beyond the safari sevens and George Sevens.
Uganda is only as good as one IRB tournament but can build from CAR sevens tournament's like Tangier-Morocco, Mosi sevens-Zambia, Indian Ocean sevens-Madagascar and other seven's circuits in next door Kenya.
Exposure to regular international events will raise the standards of the game.
Strength, conditioning and pace are paramount in sevens rugby which is why top teams all have a qualified strength and condition coach something lacking in Uganda.
If the URU sponsorship committee can adopt strategic plans for sevens and sell it to potential sponsors, I am positive they will be willing to finance Uganda's renaissance of seven's rugby, however ambitious the plan might be.
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