After more than a year, the Uganda rugby cranes 15s men’s team will take to the field in international competition.
The Cranes are coming up against Zambia in a shortened version of the Victoria Cup. Zimbabwe sent their apologies for missing out this year, and that’s left Uganda, Kenya & Zimbabwe.
The Cranes will be led Ivan Magomu, the Pirates ship pivot, who also had the reigns when the team went to France in 2022 for the Gold Cup.
He’ll be deputized in the backs by the notorious Conrad Wanyama, and in the forwards by the bludgeoning Byron Oketayot.
Oketayot Byron has enjoyed a comeback season having been invited to be part of the extended National 7s team side after he catapulted the KOBs to the summit of the 7s summit, midway the competition.
From the KOBs, we’ll also see Faraji Odugo lineup between the two props, with Odugo also being vital in that KOBs run, earning himself a call to the extended 7s side for 2023.
To keep the National 7s spirit going, former skipper Michael Wokorach is back in the black yellow red, lining up at his favored outside center, where he’s partnering with returning Eric Mula Mula.
Timothy Kisiga gets his first outing for the 15s, over 5 years after making his international 7s debut.
The wings for Saturday have been occupied by two wise men from the East in Jinja Hippos utility menace Jacob Ocen and the rising Shakim Sembusi of the Walukuba Barbarians.
After more than 7 months away from the game, Charles Uhuru will return straight into the engine room, lining up as a lock alongside the experienced Eliphaz Emong.
In a 5-3 bench split, we’ll see two débutantes hopefully come off the bench in playmaker Liam Walker and proud Pirate Sydney Gongodyo.
Courtesy Photos
