Uganda’s Men’s and Women’s Sevens Teams Face Tough Start in Cape Town

Uganda’s Men’s and Women’s Sevens teams had a challenging start to the 2025 World Rugby HSBC Sevens Challenger Series in Cape Town, South Africa, finishing 7th and 8th, respectively. Despite moments of brilliance, both teams struggled to find the consistency needed to push for higher rankings.

Men’s Team: 7th Place Finish with Mixed Results

The Uganda Men’s 7s team opened their campaign with a promising 24-14 victory over Brazil, showcasing their attacking flair and solid defense. However, they couldn’t sustain the momentum, falling 32-17 to Samoa, a loss that dashed their hopes of a semifinal berth.

In the knockout stages, Uganda endured a heavy 47-5 defeat at the hands of Portugal in the 5th-place playoff semifinal. The team, however, bounced back with resilience, edging Japan 17-7 in the 7th-place playoff final, securing a spot within the tournament’s top eight.

Uganda Men’s Day Two Results:

• 5th-place Playoff Semifinal: Portugal 47-05 Uganda
• 7th-place Playoff Final: Uganda 17-07 Japan

While their performance was inconsistent, the win against Japan offered a glimmer of hope as they head into the second round of the Challenger Series.

Lady Cranes: Battling Through to an 8th Place Finish

The Uganda Women’s team, the Lady Cranes, faced a tough start with a 24-7 loss to Colombia in their opening match. However, they quickly regrouped and delivered an emphatic 29-5 win over Belgium, finishing second in their pool.

Their journey to a higher finish was cut short by a narrow 19-17 defeat to Thailand in the 5th-place playoff semifinal. In their final match, the Lady Cranes fell just short again, losing 21-19 to the Czech Republic, settling for 8th place.

Uganda Women’s Day Two Results:

• 5th-place Playoff Semifinal: Thailand 19-17 Uganda
• 7th-place Playoff Final: Czech Republic 21-19 Uganda

Though the Lady Cranes couldn’t break into the top tier, their spirited display, particularly the dominant victory over Belgium, highlights their potential.

What’s Next for Uganda?

Both Uganda’s Men’s and Women’s teams will remain in Cape Town for the second round of the Challenger Series, scheduled for March 7-8, 2025.

The goal will be to finish in the top eight across both rounds to secure a spot in Round 3 in Krakow, Poland (April 11-12). From there, the top four teams of the entire Challenger Series will advance to the HSBC Sevens Play-Off in Los Angeles (May 3-4), battling for a place in the 2026 HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series.

As the teams gear up for the next round, Uganda’s focus will be on tightening their defense, capitalizing on scoring opportunities, and maintaining composure under pressure.

The road to Los Angeles may be challenging, but with the fighting spirit both teams have shown, Uganda remains in the hunt for a spot in the global rugby sevens elite.