On Wednesday, the National Council of Sports and Uganda Rugby Union flagged off the extended contingent of Cranes 15-a-side squad of players and technical staff for South Africa in a move to lift the tempo ahead of the international season.
The 29 players and 7 technical staff are joining the 7 players who have been in South Africa for the last three months as beneficiaries of an extended high-performance MOU between URU and the Blue Bulls Rugby Union in South Africa. These are Sydney Gongodyo, Conrad Wanyama, Faraj Odugo, Byron Oketayot, Santos Ssenteza, Asuman Mugerwa, and Emong Eliphaz.
The notion of high-performance camps had been a privilege saved for the Sevens program but has since been branched out to benefit the National Fifteens program.
Coach Mudoola and his captain Ivan Magomu will approach this year with even higher expectations after their exploits in Tunisia last year, the Victoria Cup win, and the home Elgon Cup last-minute win, thanks to a beautiful Lima Walker penalty.
Before the ultimate money games, the Cranes, as we reported in May, will play some warmup matches with the local clubs that subscribe to Harlequins Rugby Club, a member club of the Blue Bulls Rugby Union (BBRU). The three games should give a largely internationally untested Cranes side the feel of coming up against players of different environments.
The most experienced players in the squad are Robert Aziku, Ivan Magomu, Charles Uhuru, Joseph Aredo, Byron Oketayot, and Asuman Mugerwa. Magomu, Aredo, and Oketayot have traded stints with both the Fifteens and Sevens national programs.
What they said
After South Africa, the team will be back home for the Rugby Africa Cup which is scheduled to be hosted at Mandela National Stadium during the summer international window.
“We have been doing the work here and getting our fitness and strength up there. But, South Africa will give us a chance to implement the game plan in the trials,” said Captain van Magomu.
Both Coach Mudoola and his captain Ivan Magomu insist that strength and conditioning have been crucial in this time since the end of the local championship, as strong muscles provide stronger, more stable joints, reduce the risk of injury, and can tolerate more bumps and bruises.
“We have been working on our conditioning as we identified it as alarming across the clubs in the country,” said Coach Fred Mudoola.
“If you have the conditioning in place, everything else is easy. We are not where we want to be with the team and are hopeful that our time in South Africa will get us there. We want to try out everything we have in plan so we can have a great picture.”
Rugby Cranes trial games in South Africa
29 June 2024 – Rugby Cranes vs Limpopo Country Districts XV in Modimolle (Nylstroom H/s)
2 July 2024 – Rugby Cranes vs Supa Barbarians in Johannesburg (Pirates Rugby Club)
5 July 2024 – Rugby Cranes vs Loftus 200 in Pretoria (Harlequin Rugby Club)
Traveling Squad:
HOOKERS – Bwambale Nathan, Jjuko Jude, Emiemu Edward
PROPS – Ayebazibwe Blair, Kivumbi Saul, Otto Mike, Aturinde Ebber
LOCKS – Opio Julius, Aziku Robert, Uhuru Charles, Wandera Brian
BACK ROW – Ziwa Moses, Omoding Mark, Odoch Morgan, Kidega Frank
SCRUM HALVES – Kato Nicholas, Kalungi Pool
FLY HALVES – Magomu Ivan, Aredo Joseph, Gizamba Calvin
CENTRES – Gwokto Thomas, Manano Alhajj, Kamiza Jones, Haruna Mohammed
BACK THREE – Oyet Joseph, Ssembusi Shakim, Odrua Robin, Ochen Arnold, Ochen Jacob
Technical Bench:
TEAM MANAGER – Ikopit Charles
HEAD COACH – Mudoola Fred
ASST. HEAD COACH – Lubambula Leonard
PHYSIO – Kayongo Noah
DOCTOR – Oboth Alex
S&C – Mudoola Timothy
FORWARDS COACH – Mubiru Alex
Courtesy Photos
