S. OchiengPhilip Wokorach in as Uganda 7s name team for Commonwealth Games
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 08.07.22. | 18:38
The squad will also double up in the World Rugby Challenger Series to be played in Chile.
Uganda 7s head coach Tolbert Onyango has announced the squad that will do duty for the Cranes when the team lines up at the upcoming Commonwealth Games taking place in Birmingham from 28 July to 8 August.
In the 14-man squad, Onyango has maintained the entire unit that won the 2022 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens tournament held in Uganda that secured the ticket to the Games apart from one player, Kelvin Balagadde who unfortunately misses out due to injury.
French based Philip Wokorach, who is currently with the 15s side in the 2022 Rugby Africa Cup, headlines the travelling party that will be captained by Michael Wokorach with Ian Munyani named as his assistant.
Uganda 7s Coach Tolbert Onyango has today named the team that will represent Uganda in the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.#Birmingham2022 #UgandaRugbyRugby pic.twitter.com/x6a6osWpCW
— Uganda Rugby Union (@UgandaRugby) July 7, 2022
The squad named will not only be for the Commonwealth Games but also for the crucial World Rugby Challenger Series in Chile where the winner will qualify for the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series as a core side for the 2022-23 season.
Alex Aturinda has been handed a debut in the team.
“Ever since the Africa Cup was held in April, we have not had a test for ourselves. We will be using the Commonwealth Games as a good test for ourselves, but also to improve on our previous standing with regard to performance at the Commonwealth Games,” the coach is quoted on Kawowo Sports.
Congratulations to everyone who has been a part of the squad for all your work in getting the team ready👊 https://t.co/xo4o01ZsBT
— 1/2 Man 1/2 Aredo (@justred__o_O) July 7, 2022
In Birmingham, the head coach is hopeful that the team can secure progression out of the group stages, something they failed to do in the last outing at the Gold Coast, Australia in 2018.
“We didn’t do so well in the past one at Gold Coast in 2018, but we are looking to at least get out of the pool this time. We want to at least win two games out of the pool and get ourselves into the quarters. That would be successful,” he said.
Uganda Men’s Sevens travelling squad (debutant*)
Michael Wokorach (captain), Ian Munyani (vice-captain), Alex Aturinda*, Desire Ayera, Claude Ivan Otema, Isaac Newton Massanganzira, Aaron Ofoywroth, Adrian Kasito, Nobert Okeny, Timothy Kisiga, William Nkore, Philip Wokorach, Karim Arinaitwe, Levis Ocen.
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