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Uganda Sevens were left heartbroken the last time out in the Challenger Series, letting slip a 14-00 lead to fall 17-14 to Germany in the quarterfinal.
The Uganda Rugby Cranes Sevens will kick off their World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series Thursday morning without poster boy Philip Wokorach.
The France-based star has not made the trip to South Africa due to commitments at his club and will undoubtedly be missed.
But if that were supposed to dampen the mood in the camp ahead of the action, it will only encourage the rest of the players to step up and get counted.
Head coach Tolbert Onyango revealed the importance of Wokorach but emphasized the collective effort of the entire team to fill gaps left by any player at any particular point.
"It goes without saying that he's a special player, and we'll definitely miss him," Onyango told Pulse Sports.
"But it gives us an opportunity to try out and new player, for someone to put up his hand and try and compete for that position and make it his own," he added.
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13:33 - 18.04.2023
RUGBY No Wokorach as Rugby Cranes' final squad for World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series named
It is a largely experienced side led by team captain Michael Wokorach and his assistant Ian Munyani.
Onyango named a team of 13 players to play in the series in the coming two weekends.
Having left for Stellenbosch at the end of March, the team has been working hard in preparation for the series.
The team was also boosted by the arrival of team team captain Michael Wokorach and Desire Ayera this week.
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The two had stayed behind due to work commitments, but their arrival will only work to strengthen the side.
Allan Olango and Aaron Tukei are the debutants on the team, which features mainly seasoned campaigners who have been part of the program for a while.
"We have prepared well," Onyango noted.
Uganda are one of the 12 men's teams who will be looking to keep alive their hopes of gaining core team status on the remodelled HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2024 these two weekends.
The team that tops the standings after back-to-back tournaments in Stellenbosch will win the World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series and enter into a four-team event at the HSBC London Sevens in May.
Joining them will be the core teams placed 12th to 14th after 10 rounds of the current World Series. Whoever comes out on top of that play-off will then achieve core team status for 2024.
Having played at the last two World Cups, Uganda's primary focus has to be on getting into the World Series, and the journey starts here.
Onyango's charges were left heartbroken the last time out in the Challenger Series, letting slip a 14-00 lead to fall 17-14 to Germany in the quarterfinal.
Kicking the semi-final door open is the least Onyango will ask of the boys.
"Previously in this competition, we have never made it past the quarterfinals, so it's our first target to win our games and try to get ourselves past the quarterfinals and into the semis.
"That for us will be success. Thereafter we'll see what happens."
Uganda are in Pool C with Brazil, Jamaica and Korea.
The African champions will kick off with two games against Brazil and Jamaica on Thursday.
World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series
Uganda fixtures
Thursday
Uganda vs. Brazil -11.28am
Uganda vs. Jamaica -2.32pm
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