ACCRA, Ghana– Today, Uganda, Kenya and South Africa have laid down an early marker in the Rugby Africa Women’s Sevens after starting the tournament with crushing wins in their respective pool openers on Saturday, November 9.
Pool C got day one underway, with Uganda emerging 48-0 runaway winners over battling Côte d’Ivoire. The Lady Cranes’ East African neighbors Kenya were also in rampant form as they dismantled struggling Mauritius 61-0 in Pool B with South Africa the early dominant side in Pool A after easing 38-0 past Burkina Faso.
The Ugandans didn’t show any sign of fatigue after arriving in Accra late Friday. They crossed the whitewash through double-scorers Lydia Namabiro and Grace Auma with captain Peace Lekuru, Maimuna Musozi, Molly Akello and Grace Nabagala also diving over.
Kenya’s try-fest was led by Sharon Auma, Stellar Wafura and Judith Auma – who all did the double. Skipper Sheila Chajira also put her name on the scorecard alongside Grace Okulu and Freshia Oduor.
Defending Champions South Africa then made short works of a disjointed Mauritius side. The Lady Bllitzboks were untroubled in their 38-0 win. Their tries came from Leigh Fortuin, Ayanda Malinga, Nadine Roos, Kemisetso Baloyi, Maria Tshiremba and Zandile Masuku.
In other matches, Zambia beat Senegal 10-5 in Pool C in the very first game of the day.
In Pool B Hosts Ghana were upset 31-12 by an impressive Madagascar side that could turn out to be a dark-horse of the tournament while Tunisia defeated Zimbabwe 10-0 in Pool C.
Organized by Rugby Africa the continental governing body of Rugby across Africa, in partnership with the Government of Ghana, the 2024 tournament will bring together 12 national women’s teams at full strength, featuring nations such 2023 reigning champions South Africa, Kenya, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso, Madagascar, Ghana, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia, Senegal and Cote d’ Ivoire. Three winning nations of the 2024 tournament will qualify for the 2025 Challenger Series, a World Rugby International Competition.
Pool A: South Africa, Tunisia, Zimbabwe, Burkina Faso
Pool B: Kenya, Madagascar, Ghana, Mauritius
Pool C: Uganda, Zambia, Senegal, Côte D’Ivoire
