Winning start for Kenya Lionesses in Rugby Africa Cup tournament in Uganda

The women’s national rugby 15s team, Kenya Lionesses started their Rugby Africa Women’s Pool B campaign with a 36-17 bonus point win over Zambia in a match staged at the Wankulukuku Stadium in Kampala, Uganda on Saturday 29 October 2022.

They were made to fight for the win against a stubborn Zambian side that refused to be easily put away.

Captain Peruz Muyuka landed an unconverted try for 5-0 lead before Grace Adhiambo converted Naomi Amuguni’s try for a 12-0 score after a period of dogged Zambian resistance.

Anne Goretti then added a drop goal for a 15-0 score before tries from Meryl Lyamba and Millie Katombo in between a Goretti penalty brought the score to 18-12.

Christabel Lindo scored on the stroke of halftime to give the Lionesses a 23-12 lead at the break.

A change in the front row saw Natasha Emali come in for Evelyne Kalemera a change which gave the Lionesses much-needed impetus in the forwards.

The fruits of the substitution were soon borne when Leah Wambui went over the chalk, Goretti sure with the conversion for a 30-12 score.

Another Goretti penalty took Kenya 33-12 up before Lyamba touched down for her brace, 33-17 the score with 15 minutes to play.

Goretti then scored the last points of the game, drilling home a penalty to give the Lionesses the lead and Pool B leadership heading into the crunch match against Uganda on 2 November.

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The Dennis Mwanja-coached side will now need to beat Uganda in the final pool game to keep alive their hopes of ever reaching a Rugby World Cup tournament.

The 2022 Rugby Africa Cup is the first stage of the Rugby World Cup 2025 qualifiers and in order to progress to the next round, Kenya need to finish top of pool B.

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Next year's Rugby Africa Women's Cup will be played in a tier system in which only the winners from this year's pools will compete for a ticket to the World Cup.

South Africa and Madagascar have already booked their place in next year’s tournament after topping Pool A and C respectively.

Additional reporting by Kenya Rugby Union.