The Uganda Sevens squad has been named ahead of the Olympic Repechage slated for Monaco from June 21-23, 2024.
The squad features five changes, with Shimwa Davis, Tukei Aaron, Etwau Denis, Mark Osuna, and Mubarak Wandera making way for the return of key players.
Uganda Sevens returnees
Skipper Ian Munyani, talisman Philip Wokorach, Pius Ogena, Timothy Kisiga, and Adrian Kasito have been called up, having missed the Challenger Series in Munich.
Pius Ogena and Peace Lekuru after winning award Uganda Rugby Awards. PHOTO/Uganda Rugby
However, the team will be without the services of Aaron Ofoywroth, Desire Ayera, and Isaac Massanganzira.
The three-day Repechage event will take place at Stade Louis II in Monaco and will feature 12 women’s and 12 men’s teams, all vying for the ultimate prize of representing their country at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
In the men’s competition, the participating teams include Brazil, Canada, Chile, China, Great Britain, Hong Kong China, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Spain, Tonga, and Uganda. South Africa’s Blitzboks are strong contenders after winning the first round of HSBC SVNS 2024 in Dubai, with Canada, Great Britain, and Spain also being core teams on the top-level rugby sevens circuit.
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The women’s tournament is wide open and will feature teams from Argentina, China, Czechia, Hong Kong China, Kenya, Jamaica, Mexico, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Poland, Samoa, and Uganda, with Czechia making their Repechage debut. The competition is expected to be highly competitive.
In the men’s event, hosts France are joined by New Zealand, Argentina, Fiji, and Australia, who booked their places in Paris by ranking in the top four positions of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2023. These teams will be joined by six regional qualification tournament winners: Uruguay (South America), Ireland (Europe), USA (North America), Kenya (Africa), Samoa (Oceania), and Japan (Asia).
Uganda Sevens. Photo Courtesy/Uganda Rugby.
The women’s Olympic lineup includes New Zealand, Australia, Ireland, and USA as the top four qualifiers through the 2023 World Series, along with hosts France. They have been joined by Brazil, Canada, Great Britain, South Africa, Fiji, and Japan as regional qualification tournament winners.
Paris 2024 will mark rugby sevens’ third appearance at the Olympic Games, and the sport is expected to be one of the most highly anticipated events, following the outstanding success of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France. Fiji’s men have dominated the Olympic competition to date with double gold medal success on debut at Rio 2016 and again in Tokyo five years later. New Zealand are the reigning women’s Olympic champions, while Australia won the inaugural women’s Olympic gold medal in Rio.
Uganda Sevens
1.Ian Munyani (C) 2. Alex Aturinda 3. Philip Wokorach 4. Pius Ogena 5. Timothy Mugisha 6. Allan Olango 7. Karim Arinaitwe 8. William Nkore 9. Roy Kizito 10. Adrian Kasito 11. Timothy Kisiga 12. Norbert Okeny
Head Coach: Tolbert Onyango SnC Coach: Allan Otim Physio: Samuel Asiimwe Team Manager: Micheal Wandera
