Rugby Africa (RA) on Thursday officially launched the four tournaments (both men and women) that will be held this year. The exercise took place at Speke Resort Munyonyo in Kampala, Uganda.
The event was graced by top executives from Rugby Africa led by their President Khaled Babbou.
The two hour session that was moderated by sports journalist Allan Darren Kyeyune of Daily Monitor was very interactive as local media engaged various officials in regard to the upcoming continental engagements.
The four tournaments that were launched are; U-20 Barthés Trophy that will be held in Nairobi, Kenya from 9 to 17 April 2022, Africa Men’s 7s that will be held at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala, Uganda from 23 to 24 April, Africa Women’s 7s that will be held in Tunisia from 29 to 30 April and the Rugby Africa Cup slated for 1 July to 10 July in Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence, France.
Save France, Rugby Union leaders of the host nations (Africa) were all present in person including Uganda’s Godwin Kayamgwe. The latter and his counterparts noted that they’re ready to host their respective tournaments.
RA’s Babbou said that all the competitions are important but highlighted the need to put in more effort into the U-20 Barthés Trophy in order to ensure that future stars are exposed to competitions earlier enough.
“We’ve been investing a lot in the U-20 competition. This is mainly for local based players and it helps to grow rugby across countries,” Babbou noted at the event.
Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) President Geoffrey Gangla Oduor said that they’re happy to once again host the tournament and that they are ready on and off the pitch.
“Preparations are going on in high gear and I welcome the rugby world to Kenya,” Oduor said adding that he’s happy that RA once again gave them the rights to host the tournament.
Kenya who are the title holders will be joined by Namibia, Madagascar, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Cote d’Ivoire, Zambia and another team that will be confirmed soon.
For Uganda, they will be hosting the Africa Men’s 7s that will be held at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala from 23 to 24 April.
Godwin Kayangwe who is the President of the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) said that; “everything is being organized well including the security and safety of the teams plus all those who will be involved in the tournament in one way or the other.” He added that the trophy will stay in Kampala as it was the case in 2017.
The tournament is a qualifier for Commonwealth Games and 7s Rugby World Cup.
Tunisia will host the Africa Women’s 7s from 29 to 30 April and Aref Belkhiria who’s the President of Tunisia Rugby says that they’re not new in hosting such tournaments as they hosted the same showpiece in 2019 and a Sevens Solidarity camp in 2021.
“We have a women’s 7s program and we have a good budget for it…that’s why it’s not by chance that we’re hosting this tournament once again. I believe this year’s edition will be special,” Belkhiria said.
The tournament is a qualifier for the Commonwealth Games and the 7s Rugby World Cup with the global showpiece set to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in September 2022.
South Africa already qualified but one additional African team will qualify for 7s Rugby World Cup. The hosts are eagerly awaiting for the showpiece to kickoff.
Jourie Roux who is the RA Secretary and CEO of South Africa Rugby Union says that they will capitalize on the tournament to further improve the level of women’s rugby in their nation and throughout the contingent.
The other event scheduled for this year is the Rugby Africa Cup that will be held at Marseilles and Aix-en-Provence, France from 1 July to 10 July.
Rugby Africa Vice President Andrew Owor says that both the players and coaches are happy to play in France and it’s an opportunity to learn a lot of things that will develop the game at the continent.
The participating teams are; Namibia, Burkina Faso, Uganda, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and Algeria.
The tournament doubles as a qualifier for the Rugby World Cup 2023 that will be played in France. One team will qualify directly.
