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Uganda’s Men national rugby team, the Rugby Cranes, have been flagged off to France for the 2023 Rugby World Cup Qualifiers scheduled for July 1st -10th.
The traveling contingent, which includes of 28 players was flagged off on Monday afternoon by Honorable minister for sports Hamson Obua in a ceremony held at the NCS headquarters in Lugogo.
Uganda is in the quarterfinals and will face Kenya Simba for a place in semis in Marseille and Aix-en-Provence.
They secured their place in the quarters after finishing top of Pool C of round two qualifiers held in Uganda in 2021.
The other nations in these qualifiers are Namibia, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Ivory coast, Senegal and Algeria.
All these eight nations will be battling for a direct African ticket to the 2023 World Cup next year in France.
After the qualifiers, the African team will be automatically pitted in group A that has hosts France, New Zealand, Italy and the Americas 1 qualifiers.
While the Runner up in the African qualification tournament in France in July will have a chance to make it to the finals through a final global qualifier of the World Cup where they will meet different countries across the global.
Uganda Rugby Cranes XV team – Robert Aziku (KOBs), Emong Eliphaz (Jinja Hippos), Paul Epillo (Heathens), Thomas Gwokto (Heathens), Joseph Aredo (KOBs), Ronald Kanyanya (Heathens), Collin Kimbowa (KOBs), Akera Komakech (Heathens), Ivan Magomu (Stanbic Black Pirates), Alhaji Manano (KOBs), Asuman Mugerwa (Kabras), James Mugisha (Stanbic Black Pirates), Jacob Ochen (Jinja Hippos), Uhuru Charles (Heathens), Timothy Odong (Stanbic Black Pirates), Faraj Odugo (KOBs), Pius Ogena (KOBs), Solomon Okia (Stanbic Black Pirates), Joaquim Chisano (Heathens), Scott Olwoch (Heathens), Mark Omoding (Kenya Harlequins), Michael Otto (KOBs), Joseph Oyet (Heathens), Alema Ruhweza (Stanbic Black Pirates), Lawrence Ssebuliba (Heathens), Santos Ssenteza (Heathens), Conrad Wanyama (Stanbic Black Pirates), Philip Wokorach (AS Bédarrides – Châteauneuf-du-Pape)
