The Uganda Women’s National Rugby Team, the Lady Cranes, are headed to Madagascar for a highly anticipated continental rugby championship, where they will face off against South Africa, Madagascar, and Kenya in a series of fierce encounters.
Led by team captain Angela Nanyonjo, the Lady Cranes are bracing for a demanding campaign that will test their skill, strategy, and stamina on the regional stage.
According to the Uganda Rugby Union, the fixtures are scheduled for: June 7, June 11 and June 15.
These matches are part of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup, a prestigious tournament that not only showcases the continent’s top female talent but also serves as a stepping stone toward global qualification events.
The Lady Cranes have shown strong form in recent months and are aiming to build on that momentum. With a blend of experienced players and emerging talent, Uganda hopes to challenge powerhouses like South Africa, the defending champions, and regional rivals Kenya, who have had a long-standing rivalry with the Cranes.
On June 2, the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) dispatched three different national teams to destinations abroad on competitive missions.
NCS Chairman Ambrose Tashobya joined URU President Godwin Kayangwe at the Copper Chimney in Lugogo, where they flagged off the Uganda Cranes 15s, the Cranes 7s, and the Lady Cranes 15s teams headed to Namibia, Mauritius and South Africa respectively.
The Cranes 15s will camp in Namibia and South Africa, playing friendlies in preparation for the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup back here in Uganda, as they eye World Cup qualification.
The Cranes 7s will be trying to defend their African crown against 11 nations in Port Louis, while the Lady Cranes 15s will face South Africa, Kenya, and Madagascar in the elite Africa Women’s Perfomance Division after impressing in the Division 1 tournament earlier.
Heeding to Kayangwe’s assertion that the teams had prepared well, Tashobya hailed the growth of rugby into a national sport, and reminded the travelling teams that they were representing not just URU but the flag. He pledged continued full support from government.