Tuesday, June 26, 2007

Charlotte Mudoola climbs up the ranks

Charlotte Mudoola went one step better from her international officiating debut where she run touch for Zambian referee Chris Mwamba during last month's men's international fixture between Uganda and Kenya at Kyadondo Rugby Club.

While 44th ranked Uganda made history at Kampala Rugby Club on 23rd June by beating Namibia who are 24th in the IRb world rankings, Charlotte Mudoola was creating history of her own. Centre referee Mark Lawrence from South Africa presented Charlotte with a rare chance to run touch when he collided with a Namibian player in the first half sustaining a deep gash on his head. Although he was temporarily patched up and he continued refereeing until the end of the first half the cut was serious and required stitches so at the half time break he handed over to one of his fellow touch judges from South Africa. Luckily enough, Charlotte was on standby and the second half saw her running touch in her second IRB sanctioned men's international.

Well done Charlotte!!!


ugrugbychiclet

Monday, June 18, 2007

CAR 7's results

This year's CAR 7's had 10 teams from 8 countries. South Africa, Uganda, Tunisia and Kenya established themselves as the top 4 teams (in 7 aside rugby) in Africa by reaching the main cup semis. Below is a summary of the day.

POOL A

South Africa

Kenya

Zambia

Burundi

Uganda Select



POOL B

Uganda

Tunisia

Rwanda

Tukkies University (Pretoria - South Africa)

Zimbabwe



South Africa won all it's preliminary games to top Pool A while Kenya lost only to South Africa to become second. Uganda Select beat both Zambia and Burundi to finish 3rd and Zambia finished 4th after beating Burundi. Burundi did not win any games and were locked out of the remainder of the tournament.



In Pool B, Uganda won all it's games to book a main cup semi final with SA while Tunisia met up with Kenya in the other main cup semi. Rwanda lost all it's games and joined Burundi in being relegated to a spectators role while Tukkies beat Rwanda and Zimbabwe to finish 3rd and earn a plate semi final berth against Zambia. Zimbabwe beat Rwanda to end up fourth in Pool B and so met with Uganda Select in the 2nd plate semi.

Zambia beat Tukkies 26 - 05 while Uganda Select beat Zimbabwe 36 - 00. Zambia and Uganda Select met for the 2nd time that day and in a repeat of last year's plate final. Zambia won the plate final last year and were keen to repeat the same feat and avenge their earlier defeat by Uganda in the day. Zambia turned the tables on Uganda Select and won the final 21 - 05.

In the main cup semi's, Uganda beat Kenya 14 - 00 courtesy of 2 tries by Helen Buteme and 2 conversions by Rachel Kakaire. South Africa hammered Tunisia 34 - 00 to set up a rematch of last year's main cup final.

In the main cup final Uganda scored first through Christine Kizito. The try was converted by Rachel Kakaire to put Uganda ahead 07 - 00. At half time the score was still 07 - 00 but after the break South Africa came out guns blazing and scored 4 unconverted tries through Natasha Hoffmeester (2), Saloma Booysen and Nomtha Xape.

Helen Buteme (Uganda) finished the tournament as the top try scorer with 11 tries. Marlize Jordaan, Saloma Booysen (both South Africa) and Agness Mtambalika (Zambia) had 7 tries each. Natasha Hoffmeester (South Africa) was awarded the tournament MVP title.

The next CAR tournament will be in 2008 and will be used as a qualification tournament for the 2009 IRB World Cup 7's in Dubai. CAR is yet to announce the hosting country. South Africa, Uganda and Tunisia are all keen to host the event.


ugrugbychiclet

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Lady Cranes pooled with Tunisia, Rwanda

URU has released the draws for tomorrow's (Saturday June 16th) CAR women's 7's tournament. A total of 8 countries have been pooled in 2 pools. South Africa are the tournament's top seeds while hosts Uganda are second seeds. Tunisia and Kenya are seeded 3rd and 4th respectively.

POOL A
South Africa
Kenya
Zambia
Burundi

POOL B
Uganda
Tunisia
Rwanda
Zimbabwe

Uganda, Kenya, Zambia and Zimbabwe are already at the Hotel Equatoria where they will be hosted for the duration of the tournament. South Africa, Rwanda, and Burundi are expected to arrive in teh country tonight.

ugrugbychiclet

Wednesday, June 13, 2007

LADY CRANES SQUAD ANNOUNCED

Herbert Wafula announced his squad of 10 that will battle it out with other African countries in the 2nd edition of the Confederation of Africa (CAR) women’s 7’s tournament to be held this Saturday, 16th June at the Kyadondo Rugby Club grounds. Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi (Thunderbirds), Frankline Najjumba (Black Panthers), and Mary Nakanyike (Thunderbirds) have been dropped from the team. The ladies go into camp at Hotel Equatoria today (Thursday). Below is the Lady Cranes squad:

1. Joan Andika (Rangers)
2. Sauda Adiru (Thunderbirds)
3. Winnie Atyang - Captain (Thunderbirds)
4. Helen Buteme (Black Panthers)
5. Rachel Kakaire (Thunderbirds)
6. Christine Kizito (Thunderbirds)
7. Charlotte Mudoola (Rangers)
8. Hadija Namuyanja - Vice captain (Rangers)
9. Asha Ssonko (Thunderbirds)
10. Ann Tumwine (Thunderbirds)

Head coach: Herbert Wafula
Assistant coach: Timothy Mudoola
Fitness & nutrition coach: Fredrick Mudoola
Team manager: Jackie Kigozi
Team doctor: Ambrose Ejalu

The other participating countries arrive in Kampala today. They will also be hosted at Hotel Equatoria by the Uganda Rugby Union (URU). The tournament kicks off at 09.00am with the group stages. Uganda’s biggest threats are South Africa, Tunisia and Kenya.

ugrugbychiclet

Tuesday, June 12, 2007

Lady Cranes at the Tusker Safari 7's - Kenya

Lady Cranes had mixed fortunes at the just concluded Tusker Safari 7's in Nairobi. The team arrived in the Kenyan capital in the wee hours of Friday (8th June) morning having spent the better part of Thursday afternoon and night on the bumpy road between Kampala and Nairobi. The women's category included Mwamba Invaders and Rovers (both Kenyan Club sides) and Keele University (England).

Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi earned her first 7's cap for Uganda during this tournament. The Lady Cranes' squad for the Safari 7's was Joan Andika, Sauda Adiru, Winnie Atyang (Captain), Rachel Kakaire, Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, Christine Kizito, Charlotte Mudoola, Mary Nakanyike, Hadija Namuyanja (Vice captain), Asha Ssonko and Ann Tumwine.

Lady Cranes' first game was on Friday afternoon and inspite of having barely had a chance to recover from their 16 hour bus ride, they thumped the Rovers 33 - 05, thrashed Keele 50 - 00 before dismissing Invaders 29 - 05. The key game of the day for both Kenya and Uganda was against the Invaders as they provide almost all of the players for Kenya's 7's national team squad and the game could be used to asses both teh teams' performance. Invaders won their games against Keele and Rovers and a rematch against Lady Cranes was set up for the final on Saturday morning.

Unfortunately for Lady Cranes, the Invaders came back a much revamped team and a repeat of Friday's results was not destined to happen. The game was scoreless up until the dying seconds of the game when the Invaders broke through and scored a try. The end score was 05 - 00 to the Invaders.

Lady Cranes coach, Herbert Wafula, will announce his final squad of Lady Cranes players this week.

ugrugbychiclet

Wednesday, June 6, 2007

CAR 7's teams participation update

So far 9 teams have confirmed participation in the CAR 7's to be held in Kampala on the 16th June 2007. The teams are Uganda, Kenya, Burundi, Rwanda, South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia and University of Pretoria (South Africa). Uganda Select is on standby in case Cote d' Ivoire and Nigeria do not confirm their participation or if one of the confirmed teams pulls out.


ugrugbychiclet

Lady Cranes to go for Safari 7's this weekend

Lady Cranes under the tutelage of Herbert Wafula and Fred Mudoola are looking good and are raring to go. Intensive fitness sessions with Mudoola have the team faster and fitter than ever before while Wafula has been working on general ball skills and game planning. With just over a week left to the 2nd edition of the CAR 7’s (16th June), Wafula has dropped 4 players and is working with 13 ladies before he makes the final cut to 10. Those dropped were Stella Bakole, Harriet Kayonjo, Stella Kyalikunda and Dorothy Nekesa (all from Thunderbirds).

Wafula is set to travel to Nairobi with the Lady Cranes for the Safari 7’s in Nairobi, Kenya this weekend (9th June). The women’s competition will be a round robin tournament involving Lady Cranes, Kenya 1 and Kenya 2. For this competition, the Ugandan ladies will be missing the services of Frankline Najjumba who is currently in India featuring for the African cricket team (yes, you read right – cricket!) in the women’s Afro – Asia Cricket Cup. Helen Buteme will also not travel with the team due to work commitments.

The travelling squad is, Joan Andika, Sauda Adiru, Winnie Atyang, Rachel Kakaire, Rosenberg Kanyunyuzi, Christine Kizito, Charlotte Mudoola, Mary Nakanyike, Hadija Namuyanja, Asha Ssonko and Ann Tumwine.