Lady Cranes bright chance at the Crucial HSBC Challenger qualification Series Battles

The stage is set for an action-packed weekend as Uganda’s Lady Cranes and Rugby Sevens teams gear up for the HSBC Challenger Series in Cape Town, South Africa. Both sides are eager to make a mark, with the Lady Cranes eyeing a historic qualification for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the men’s team pushing for promotion to the top tier.

Lady Cranes: Aiming Higher in Their Second Challenger Series

The Lady Cranes enter their second Challenger Series with renewed optimism under head coach Charles Onen. After a solid debut season in 2024, where they exceeded expectations by finishing 6th with 34 points, the team missed out on qualifying for the 2024-2025 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. Their journey was cut short in Krakow, Poland, following a surprise group stage defeat to Paraguay. Despite advancing to the quarterfinals as the best loser, they fell short of the final qualification round in Madrid, where China, Argentina, Belgium, and Poland clinched the top four spots.

Coach Charles Onen remains confident ahead of the Cape Town showdown.

It’s a world-class tournament. I believe the girls know what’s at stake. I pretty much trust that their attitude and mentality are going to change this time, Onen stated.

The Lady Cranes are drawn in Pool C, where they will face familiar foes Belgium and Colombia. Belgium, a side the Lady Cranes have battled thrice in the past year, poses a familiar yet formidable challenge. The two sides clashed twice in Dubai — Uganda winning the first match 12-5 and 17-12 in the quarterfinals. Their most recent encounter in Uruguay saw Belgium come out on top again.

With the new tournament format eliminating the quarterfinal stage, only the top team from each of the four pools, alongside the best two runners-up, will advance to the semifinals. This makes winning both pool games crucial for the Lady Cranes’ hopes of progressing.

Uganda Rugby Sevens: Fighting for Promotion

On the men’s side, the Uganda Rugby Sevens team is equally determined to secure a spot in the elite HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. They have been placed in a challenging Pool C alongside sevens giants Samoa and Brazil.

The men’s team is eyeing the HSBC SVNS Playoff in Los Angeles, scheduled for May 3-4, where the four best-performing teams across the three Challenger Series tournaments will face off against the lowest-ranked core series teams for a shot at promotion.

The new format means each pool consists of three teams, and only two victories guarantee a place in the semifinals — a tougher route compared to last year’s quarterfinal system.

Road to Los Angeles

Both the Lady Cranes and the Uganda Rugby Sevens teams are not just fighting for pride but also a place among rugby’s elite. With the top four teams after all three tournaments advancing to the playoffs in Los Angeles, every match in Cape Town carries immense weight.

The Lady Cranes, in particular, have the potential to rewrite history by securing a coveted spot in the HSBC Series in just their second year of participation.

As the teams prepare to step onto the pitch, all eyes will be on Cape Town to see if Uganda’s rugby stars can defy the odds and move one step closer to the pinnacle of world rugby.