SEVENS RUGBY WORLD CUP

Uganda women’s rugby sevens team dubbed the Lady Cranes have commenced preparations for the inaugural women's RWC Sevens to be held in Dubai in March 2009.The women's competition will be held alongside the men's competition that will be contested on two pitches. The women's competition starts on Friday, March 6 at 11 am and will be played over three days ending on Sunday 8th March.

 A provisional squad of 19 players have been summoned for training sessions that are conducted at both Kampala RFUC and Kyadondo RFC. Training started on Monday 20th October. One debutante who has aroused a lot of interest in the local media is national 200 and 400 meter sprinter Justine Bayiga who represented Uganda in the Beijing Olympics. The national athlete is switching codes from athletics to rugby but the jury is still out as she has only five months to muster the necessary skill and finesse to represent the country at the RWC stage. The ladies team with the exception of Helen Buteme have been lacking out and out pace on the wings and if coaches David Mutaka and Robert Seguya can add technical rugby value to Bayiga's athletic prowess she would be a useful addition to the side. Rachel Kakaire who missed the qualifiers due to an ankle injury has also joined the team.

South African Technical Advisor Norman Mbiko who was in the country to provide expertise to the men's sevens team took the team through drills in two training sessions-culminating in a blip fitness test on Sunday- which focused mainly on skills development. He urged the ladies to work extra hard in order to make an impression on the world stage. The team trains three times a week at a later stage a fourth session on Saturday's for trial matches will be introduced.

 UWRA president Irene Namapii agrees the team needs to work extra hard and reiterates Uganda is not going to the world cup just to make up the numbers. She had this to say, ''We do not want to go to the world cup just to make an appearance.  We want to make sure we make it to the quarter finals and/or above, so that next time we do not have to go through the qualifying process, but will be automatically selected to go for world cup 2013.  That is our wish and our plan.''
 The major hindrance to the team's preparations still remains availability of funds and by Irene Namapii's conservative estimates the team will need about UShs 266 million to adequately get prepared. UWRA and URU are still discussing with potential sponsors and any interested sponsor seeking to facilitate the world cup bound women's national rugby team can click on the following link  for further details: SUPPORT THE LADY CRANES

 UWRA together with URU are in talks with long-time accommodation hosts of visiting rugby teams Equatorial Hotel on the possibility of offering free gym services to the ladies team. This will help improve the strength, conditioning and fitness of the ladies- fitness in particular has been a major problem for the ladies. This will be coupled with nutrition and diet schedule supervised by a qualified nutritionist. This is but a small fraction of what the cash strapped UWRA need in their preparations that have a cost element. Travel and accommodation costs for local/International tournaments, training allowances/refreshments, training kit, equipment and other conditions have to be financed to guarantee the best possible results.
 
This is time around Uganda government should get involved and offer support to the women's national team who are going to fly the national flag on the world stage in Dubai.
 Lady Cranes Provisional RWC squad.
 Christine Kizito(Captain),Winnie Atyang, Rosenburg Kanyunyuzi, Harriet Kayonjo, Josephine Namayega, Rachel Kakaire, Sauda Adiru, Agnes Nantongo, Aisha Ssonko, Dorothy Nekesa (Thunderbirds ); Fortunate Irankunda, Helen Buteme, Brenda Kayiyi, Prossy Nakakande, Claire Anena, Justine Bayiga (Black Panthers); Mary Kyoita, Charlotte Mudoola, Aaliya Adania(Rangers).
 
Team Management
 Coach: David Mutaka
Assistant Coach: Robert Seguya
Team Manager:  Jeroline Akubu
Team Doctor: Dr. Connie Olwit