Charlotte Mudoola of URRS makes history

Charlotte Mudoola of the Uganda Rugby Referees Society (URRS) made history during the recent Elgon Cup match between Uganda and Kenya. The first leg of the Elgon Cup competiton was held at Kyadondo Rugby Club on the 28th of May. Charlotte became the first woman in Uganda (and possibly Africa) to officiate at a senior men's test match. Charlotte and Charles Mungoma (URRS) were touch judges for the Zambian centre referee, Chris Mwamba (ZRRS).

Uganda has a good record of trying to promote female officials. In 2004, Helen Buteme (URRS) travelled to Harare, Zimbabwe as part of the team of 3 that officiated the IRB U 19 World Cup qualifier match between Zimbabwe and Kenya. Helen and David Kirabira (URRS) were touch judges for Ramsey Olinga (URRS).

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Lady Cranes coach attends coaching course in South Africa

Herbert Wafula, head coach of Uganda's women's 7's team (Lady Cranes) recently attended a 3 day IRB coaching course in South Africa from the 15th to the 17th of May. 20 participants from various countries in Africa attended this course. So far, I don't have the details yet of what transpired during the course or how Wafula performed but I'll post it as soon as I get the information.


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Elgon cup curtain raiser off

The planned curtain raiser 15 aside game between Lady Cranes and their Kenyan counterparts has been called off. The Ugandan Rugby Union (URU) had invited the Kenyan women's national squad to play against the Lady Cranes prior to the Elgon Cup game (Uganda vs Kenya) at the Kyadondo Rugby Club on the 26th May. Key players in the Kenyan squad are preparing for the CAR 7's to be held in June and the Kenya Rugby Football Union (KRFU) are not keen on sending a weakened squad for the 15 aside game.

Meanwhile the Lady Cranes 7's players have stepped up training in a bid to win this year's CAR 7's (June 16th and 17th). Monday's and Wednesday's are fitness day's under fitness guru Fred Mudoola while Friday's and Sunday's are for ball skills and game planning under head coach Herbert Wafula. 17 ladies from Black Panthers, Rangers and Thunderbirds Rugby Clubs are competing for the honours to represent Uganda. Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, Harriet Kayonjo, Dorothy Nekesa and Frankline Najjumba are looking for their first 7's caps. Over the next few weeks the squad will be trimmed to 12 players.

Props/Hookers: Winnie Atyang, Stella Bakole, Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, Christine Kizito, Stella Kyalikunda, Mary Nakanyike, Dorothy Nekesa, and Ann Tumwine (Thunderbirds).

Scrumhalves: Joan Andika and Charlotte Mudoola (Rangers).

Flyhalves: Harriet Kayonjo (Thunderbirds) and Hadija Namuyanja (Rangers).

Centres/Wingers: Sauda Adiru, Rachel Kakaire, Asha Ssonko (Thunderbirds), Helen Buteme and Frankline Najjumba (Black Panthers).

Team Manager: Jeroline Akubu

Head Coach: Herbert Wafula

Fitness & Nutrition Coach: Fred Mudoola

Team Doctor: Dr. Samuel Guma

Team Physiotherapist: Ambrose Ejalu

This tournament will be used by the competing teams to gauge their chances of qualifying for the Women's 2009 IRB 7's World Cup which will be held in conjunction with the men’s tournament in Dubai. The African qualifiers are expected to be held next year (2008) but the hosting country is yet to be revealed by the Confederation of African Rugby (CAR).

Anne Sizomu of URRS in Zimbabwe

Anne Sizomu Alan, Chairperson of the Uganda Rugby Referees Society (URRS), is currently in Zimbabwe to attend a referees coaching clinic after which she will coach referees officiating during the annual Cottco Schools Rugby Festival. The week long festival kicked off on Monday morning (21st April) at the Prince Edward High School in Harare and attracted a total of 88 teams: 54 Under 19 sides and 34 Under 16 sides.

Olinga to represent Uganda women's rugby in UK

Ramsey Olinga, Uganda's school's development officer, sets off today (3rd May) for the UK to represent Uganda in a rugby conference on the Development of the Women's Game. Twenty-six unions in the women's game will meet in Lensbury, London, for the Conference over a 3 day period.

The IRB Conference on the Women’s Game presents the opportunity to review the WRWC 2006 from a technical perspective providing an insight as how the game is played compared with 2002 and to identify different styles of play that prevailed during the tournament. As sevens is becoming increasingly popular in the women’s game the role of Rugby Sevens with attention on the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 will also be discussed.

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2007 CAR 7's - Kampala leg

THE Kampala (Uganda) edition of the 2007 CAR 7's (women's tournament) is set to be held from 16th - 17th June.

Lady Cranes (Uganda's women national team) is currently undergoing drills 3 times a week at Kampala Rugby Club under Herbert Wafula. Players from Thunderbrids, Black Panthers and Rangers make up the squad. Among the squad is Winnie Atyang (Thunderbirds and Lady Cranes captain), 2006 URU MVP Rachel Kakaire (Thunderbirds), 2004 and 2005 URU MVP Helen Buteme (Black Panthers) and Hadija Namuyanja (Rangers captain).

2006 Kampala CAR 7's champions South Africa, 2006 Kampala CAR 7's semifinalists Kenya and Tunisia (winners of the 2007 LG CAR 7's held in Tunis, Tunisia) have so far confirmed their participation.

Rwanda, Burundi and Zambia are expected to confirm their participation soon and have been in preparations for the last 2 months. They are set to select their travelling squads at the end of this month (May).

Other teams that have been invited include Nigeria, Morocco, Cote d'Ivoire and Zimbabwe as well as The Arabian Gulf from the Middle East who will be the tournament guests.

With qualifiers for the 2009 IRB 7's World Cup set to be held next year, the African teams will use this tournament to gauge how strong their bid for the (single?) African slot will be.

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