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Tolbert Onyango’s charges will start by undergoing medical checks on Thursday.
The national Rugby Sevens team will start training on Thursday ahead of April’s Challenger Series in South Africa.
Tolbert Onyango’s charges will start by undergoing medical checks on Thursday.
Thereafter the team will train for close to two months before their first piece of action slated for April 20th and 22nd in Stellenbosch, South Africa.
The Challenger Series was introduced in February 2020 to boost the development of rugby sevens across the globe and provide a clear promotion pathway to reach the pinnacle HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
Uganda will face familiar Sevens sides in a twelve-team competition that will follow the Olympic Games competition format.
The winner of the men’s Challenger Series will enter a four-team play-off at the HSBC London Sevens in May 2023 together with the teams placed 12th-14th after ten rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.
The winner of the play-off will the achieve Sevens World Series 2024 status.
The 12 men teams are Belgium, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Jamaica, Korea, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
And with the Sevens players starting training, it is only a matter of time until they are pulled out of their respective clubs to focus on the tournament.
Players like Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Adrian Kasito, Ian Munyani, Michael Wokorach and Desire Ayera have been active with their respective teams in the Nile Special Rugby Premier League.
It is expected that the team will have a camp in South Africa before the tournament.
The team
While head coach Onyango was hesitant to confirm the names on those called up, there is a list of 18 players making rounds on social media.
The list features seasoned campaigners who have become a big part of the team as well as first-timers.
Ivan Otai of Makerere Impis, Plascon Mongers’ William Lukwago and Rams’ Hossana Opileni are some of the new faces on the list.
Michael Wokorach and Philip Wokorach lead the experienced lot.
Uganda Sevens
Michael Wokorach (Heathens)
Aaron Ofoyrwoth (Heathens)
Nobert Okeny (Heathens)
Alex Aturinda (Pirates)
Timothy Kisiga (Pirates)
Mubarak Wandera (Pirates)
Desire Ayera (Pirates)
Adrian Kasito (Kobs)
Ian Munyani (Kobs)
Karim Arinaitwe (Kobs)
Timothy Mugisha (Jinja Hippos)
Denis Etwau (Jinja Hippos)
Yasin Waiswa (Jinja Hippos)
Ivan Otai (Impis)
William Lukwago (Mongers)
Hossana Opileni (Rams)
Aaron Tukei (Buffaloes)
Philip Wokorach (Avenir Sportif de Bedarrides Chateaneuf du-Pape Vaucluse Rugby)
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