Zambia and Uganda have named their squad ahead of their Wednesday’s 26 April Barthes Trophy fifth-place face off at Nyayo Stadium.
The Zambia rugby team will field a strong starting XV with Patrick Chota, Chate Cassidy and Fisonge Prince making up the front row.
Zambia’s second row and back row for Barthes Trophy
Misheck Lukusa and Mwale Mulenga will partner in the second row. In the back row, Chabu Mwanaumba will play blindside flanker, Charles Mweemba at openside flanker and Fred Mtonga, who will captain the team, at number eight.
The half-backs will be Emmanuel Mbewe at scrum-half and Cedric Tendai at fly-half, while Perry Mwape and Emmanuel Mwansa will form the midfield pairing.
Kondwani Mwasagwale and Mumba Elijah will occupy the wings, and Robert Keeley will be the fullback. The bench includes versatile players such as Raphael Zulu, Evans Fumbelo, and Elphas Ngalabika.
On the other hand, Uganda’s starting XV features a front row of Rodney Takan, Sammi Lumala, and Ethan Mugabi. Bright Mukisa and Hashim Kabogoza will play in the second row, with David Bajananseko at blindside flanker and Shakul Kigozi at openside flanker.
Francis Bogere, the captain, will occupy the number eight position. In the backline, Stuart Michael Mwayi will play scrum-half and Calvin Gizamba will wear the fly-half jersey.
Arnold Ocen and Thomas Arthur Opio will form the midfield partnership, with Robert Sentongo and Julius Oyuk on the wings, and Edison Ariho as the fullback.
The bench includes a mix of forwards and backs, including Moses Mununuzi, Mark Mikaya, and Hamidu Simdilana, as well as versatile options such as Matthew Musasizi and Yusuf Ssali.
Both teams will be eager to put in a strong performance in the Barthes Trophy fifth-place semi-final, and it remains to be seen which team will come out on top.
Zambia vs Uganda squad
Zambia 1.Patrick Chota 2.Chate Cassidy 3.Fisonge Prince 4.Chabu Mwanaumba 5.Mumba Elijah 6.Mbewe Emmanuel 7.Mweemba Charles 8.Lukusa Misheck 9.Mwale Mulenga 10.Tendai Cedric 11.Mtonga Fred (Capt) 12.Mwape Perry 13.Mwansa Emmanuel 14.Mwasagwale Kondwani 15.Keeley Robert
REPLACEMENTS: 16.Kabinga Richard 17.Sylvester Kabwe 18.Lokonde Kelvin 19.Musonda Chilengi 20.Raphael Zulu 21.Evans Fumbelo 22.Fred Chanda 23.Elphas Ngalabika
Uganda 1. Edison Ariho 2. Rodney Takan 3. Sammi Lumala 4.Ethan Mugabi 5.Bright Mukisa 6. David Bajananseko 7. Shakul Kigozi 8. Francis Bogere 9. Stuart Michael Mwayi 10. Calvin Gizamba (Capt) 11. Arnold Ocen 12. Hashim Kabogoza 13. Thomas Arthur Opio 14. Robert Sentongo 15. Julius Oyuk
REPLACEMENTS 16. Moses Mununuzi 17. Mark Mikaya 18. Hamidu Simdilana 19. Edgar Okore 20. David Awan 21. Matthew Musasizi 22. Goft Wokorach 23. Yusuf Ssali