Lady Rugby Cranes miss out on Madrid ticket

Uganda Rugby Women’s Sevens national team, the Lady Rugby Cranes qualification to the 2024-2025 HSBC World Rugby Sevens series ended in shock after the team finished 7th in Krakow, Poland where the last event of the Women’s Challengers Series climaxed on Sunday.

Uganda’s shock defeat 17-14 against Paraguay in the group stage was the beginning of an unplanned adventure for Lady Rugby Cranes in Krakow.

They later fought to beat Papua New Guinea 27-26 but lost to Argentina 33-21 in the last game of the group.

Uganda qualified for the quarterfinal as the best loser from the group after finishing third and the points accumulated pointed them to China, a team they lost to 38-14.

Uganda fought for the seventh position after beating Paraguay 35-5.

In Krakow, China won their third straight event after thumping hosts Poland 36-0. China won in Dubai and Montevideo and collected 60 points overall.

The seven points collected in Krakow gave Lady Rugby Cranes Sevens 34 points overall to finish sixth in their first appearance in the Challengers Series behind Kenya Lioness who finished fifth.

The top four teams in China, Argentina, Belgium, and Poland qualified for the final qualifying event in Madrid set for May 31st -2nd June 2024.

They join Brazil, South Africa, Japan, and Spain who finished bottom in the 2023-2024 World Rugby Sevens Series.

From the eight teams, the semifinalists will make it to the 2024-2025 World Rugby Sevens Series.

In Munich, the Rugby Cranes 7s finished sixth after losing to their noisy neighbors Kenya Shujaa 48-0 in the fifth playoff.

Uganda worked on their way to the quarterfinal after winning two out of three games in Group B.

Uganda beat Tonga 26-12, and Mexico 33-12 before losing to Hong Kong China 33-12.

In the quarterfinal, Uganda lost to China 24-14.

Uruguay won two out of the three events played. In Munich, they beat hosts Germany 21-19.

Uganda finished this year’s Challengers Series in sixth overall.

Uruguay, Kenya, Chile, and Germany made their way to the final event in Madrid. They join the USA, Spain, Samoa, and Canada who finished bottom in the World Series.

The semifinalists here will also make it to the 2024-2025 World Rugby Sevens Series.

Uganda’s two national teams will now turn focus to the 2024 Olympic repechage set for 21st-23rd in Monaco, France.

Lady Cranes 7s is in Pool B with Hong Kong, Paraguay, and Jamaica. The Men are also pooled in B with Great Britain, Canada, and China.

Tournament winners will fill the remaining one slot in each category at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.