Coach Charles Onen, on Wednesday afternoon, announced the Uganda Lady Cranes squad, which will participate in the upcoming HSBC World Rugby 7s Challenger series in Dubai.
The biggest news concerns the addition of sprinter Emilly Lekuru of the Black Pearls, who was featured for the greater part of last year for the 15s national team.
Thunderbirds’ lynchpin Mary Glory Ayot has also returned to the side, at the expense of new kids on the block, Nile Rapids’ Unity Namulala and Lady Pacers’ Gertrude Kateesa Junior.
The team has been in training for the last six months, and Coach Onen believes the ladies are ready to take on the Challenger Series despite their rookie and newbie tags.
“Being debutants in the tournament, it’s going to get tough. It’s a test to all of us: the team’s management, the coaching staff, the country, and the players themselves,” Coach Onen told Kawowo Sports last week.
The ladies had the perfect end to the year after claiming bronze in Tunisia after defeating Zambia 29-10 in the third-place playoff of the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s.
This victory helped them punch their ticket to the repechage alongside Kenya to represent Africa, trying to land their ticket to the Paris Olympics.
In late November, the lady Cranes were crowned Champions of the Safari 7s, a worthy achievement to crown a year of toil and perseverance.
Three tries through Lydia Namabiro, Agnes Nakuya, and Rita Nadunga were enough to guide Uganda to a 15-12 win over noisy neighbours, the Kenya Lionesses.
For the Repechage, the Lady Cranes are drawn against Thailand, Papua New Guinea, and 2023 runners-up Belgium in Pool A.
Lady Cranes Squad For Challenger Series
Ritta Nadunga, Yvonne Najjuma, Mary Gloria Ayot, Agnes Nakuya (VC), Racheal Mufuwa, Maimuna Nassozi, Sarah Kirabo, Peace Lekuru ©, Grace Nabagala, Lorna Sandra Amoli, Emily Lekuru.
Pool Stages Game Schedule
🗓️ 𝗙𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟮𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰:
W – 12:30 pm: Belgium vs Uganda
W – 4:42 pm: Thailand vs Uganda
🗓️ 𝗦𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗱𝗮𝘆, 𝟭𝟯𝘁𝗵 𝗝𝗮𝗻 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰:
W – 11:43 am: Papua New Guinea vs Uganda
Courtesy Photos
