Uganda Rugby Sevens at the 2019 Africa Sevens Championship.

Earlier days of training for the Uganda 7s team this year outside the Nelson Mandela Stadium, Nambole. Standing extreme left is the Sprinting coach Ali Gaimoko.

The team Earlier yesterday at Entebbe before they flew out

Opening round for some teams.

Uganda at the Safari 7s.

Official logo for the 2019 Championship.

Coach Tolbert Onyango at the 2019 Safari 7s.

2017 Africa Rugby Sevens Champions at Legends Rugby Club at Kampala.

The Uganda Seven’s rugby team jetted to Johannesburg today where they will play it out with 13 other African teams for the African Sevens Championship which will be held from 8th to 9th November under a new and similar format to that used at the 2018 World Cup Sevens in Sans Francisco, USA.

This year’s competition will also double as the 2020 Olympics Qualifiers with a single slot for the African Champion. Teams which will finish 2nd and 3rd will have another chance to qualify at the Repechage stage of the process which will be held on 20th and 21st June 2020. The Rugby Sevens at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympics Games will played from the 27th July to 1st August 2020.

In last year’s Africa Sevens Championship, Uganda surrendered its 2 years’ grip on the title to Zimbabwe Cheetahs (19-24) in a tense semi final in Tunisia. Zimbabwe went ahead and beat Kenya 17-05 in the final. This year’s competition will be held at Bosman Stadium, a neutral venue since South Africa already qualified as one of the top 4 teams in last season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series alongside Fiji, USA and New Zealand.

Based on last year’s results, Zimbabwe are ranked as seed 1 followed by Kenya (seed 2), Uganda (seed 3), Madagascar (seed 4), Zambia, Tunisia, Senegal, Morocco, Namibia, Ghana, Botswana, Mauritius, Ivory Coast and Nigeria.

The opening round just like last year in Sans Francisco will be a knockout stage on Friday 8th November. The 7 teams which win the opening round plus the best overall loser will head to the Championship quarters stage. The teams are paired thus for the opening round: Zimbabwe vs. Nigeria (10:00am EAT), Kenya vs. Ivory Coast (10:22am), Uganda vs. Mauritius (10:44), Madagascar vs. Botswana (11:06am), Zambia vs. Ghana (11:28am), Tunisia vs. Namibia (11:50am) and finally Senegal vs. Morocco (12:12pm).

The teams which will lose at the Opening round will continue participation at the trophy stage where the teams will be classified from position 9 to 14.

The teams which will win their opening round games will be placed in 2 pools, A and B thus;

Pool A: Winner M1, Winner M4, Winner M5, Best loser

Pool B: Winner M2, Winner M3, Winner M6, Winner M7

The Championship teams will play 2 extra games in their pool on Friday. On Saturday the teams will complete their pool games and proceed to the semi finals stage of the competition. The Games will be live on the Rugby Africa Facebook page.

The Uganda team has a fairly good chance to win the opening round and go all the way. It is easier to qualify for the Olympics and it will only take Uganda to win the Championship. The biggest threat to Uganda will obviously be Kenya and Zimbabwe. These 2 teams have won the African Championship thrice a piece while Uganda has won it twice (2016 and 2017).

Before departing to South Africa Head Coach Tolbert Onyango stated that the team is ready to battle and this was owing to the mix of youth and experience. He was hopeful that the team will make Uganda proud.

The Uganda Rugby Men's 7s squad:

Ian Munyani

Massa Isaac

Ogena Pius

Aaron Oforywoth

Adrian Kasito

Aredo Joseph

Levis Ocen

Ssebuliba Lawrence

Odongo James

Kevin Kerumundu

Philip Wokorach

Okorach Michael (Captain).

Management Team:

Coach: Tolbert Onyango

Team manager: Michael Wandera

Physiotherapist: Noah Kayongo.

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The 2019 Rugby World Cup Review from Rugby256 perspective enjoy

Siya Kolisi, Flanker and South Africa's first black Captain.

The etching on the Webb Ellis Trophy was finished minutes before the final whistle.

Caption: Steven Kitshoff (17) and Vincent Koch part of Coach Rassie Erasmus's 'bomb squad' replaces Tendai Mtawarira (in the centre) and Faans Mahherbe (not in the picture).

Springbok's Loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira aka the beast with the Wife after beating England 32-12 in the final.

Springbok's Loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira aka the beast with the Wife after beating England 32-12 in the final.

South Africa Rugby Captain Siya Kolisi, Prince Harry and Tendai Mtawarira in the South African changing room.

Springbok's Loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira aka the beast with the Webb Ellis Trophy after beating England 32-12 in the final.

RG Snyman and Lood de Jager with the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Springboks half back Far de Klerk with the Webb Ellis Cup in his briefs at their changing room shortly after beating England 32-12 in the final at the International Stadium Yokohama.

Springbok's Loosehead prop Tendai Mtawarira aka the beast with the Webb Ellis Trophy after beating England 32-12 in the final.

Springbock lock Eben Etzebeth.

1st Centre Damian De Allende.

Top try scorer Makazole Mapimpi (6 tries)with the Webb Ellis Trophy.

Siya Kolisi and teams mates lift the Webb Ellis on the podium. 2019 RWC Champions after 12 long years.

Africa's best is at number 1. The next best in Africa, Namibia is at 23.

Africa's 3rd best, Kenya is at 32 followed by the 2019 Victoria Cup winners Zimbabwe at 34. Tunisia follows at 39 and Uganda will finish the year at 41 globally. Uganda should target to get back into 30s and target to reach and stay in the 20 over next 2 years.

 World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont with the Uganda Rugby President Mr. Kayangwe Godwin having a light moment in Japan.

Ugandan Rugby fans from Legends on 2nd November after South Africa lifted the Webb Ellis.

Uganda Rugby President Mr. Kayangwe Godwin standing next to the Webb Ellis in Japan.

Springboks Captain Siya Kolisi with the Webb Ellis Trophy.

The Springboks are deserved 2019 RWC winners with a stunning 32-12 victory over England. South Africa now has 3 titles equal to New Zealand, Australia has 2 titles and England 1. The first Rugby World Cup to be held in Asia tore apart many records and will be cherished for decades to come. South Africa became the first Country to win both the Rugby Championship and the Rugby World Cup in the same year. They also became the first team to lose a game at the pool stages and win the Cup.

The English who came into the final as Rugby256's favourites to win it seemed a bit lost for most periods of the game. The Boks were solid on their set pieces and defended bravely and smartly. The English failed to cross their try line. The early exchanges by the halftime break were deceptive and the Boks went for the break with a narrow 12-06 lead. The English seem to have succumbed to an old ‘rugby curse'. No team ever beats New Zealand and have gone on to win the Cup; the earlier examples are France in 1999, Australia in 2003 and France in 2007.

The Springboks Head Coach has proven to all doubting Thomases that at 47 years old he is among the very best in the World. He took over the reins in barely 2 years ago albeit hesitatingly and that he has molded the players into World beaters in a period shorter than his competitors had (Warren Garland, Eddie Jones, Steve Hansen and Australia’s Cheika). He got awarded with the World Coach of the year 2019.

The World Rugby Awards were held at The Prince Park Tower only 24 hours after South Africa won the final in Tokyo. South Africa also won the 2019 team of the year award beating off competition from England, Wales, New Zealand and Japan. Pieter-Steph du Toit the Springboks evergreen flanker was awarded Rugby Player 2019. He beat off competition from Tom Curry, Alun Wyn Jones, Cheslin Kolbe, Ardie Saves and Joe Taufete'e of the USA.

The Springboks Captain Siya Kolisi became the first black man to lift the most treasured Cup in World Rugby. His storyline from his humble beginnings to the lifting of the Webb Ellis Trophy is stuff for a blockbuster movie or Television series. It all ended well with the Springboks and scenes of their celebrations in the changing room have gone viral with Prince Harry joining and congratulating them.

The Records have fallen carelessly in Japan:Record attendance at 99.3% with 1.84 million tickets sold out; Record 1.13 million people in the fanzones; Record 54.8 million Television audience for the Japan vs Scotland game; Record 437 Billion Yen economic impact; Record more than 1.7 Billion digital video views and a record attendance of 90,103 spectators at the final at the International Stadium, Yokohama.

Japan have been great hosts and the World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont had this to say:

“Rugby World Cup 2019 has been one of the greatest, if not the greatest of all time, and certainly the most ground breaking in terms of bringing the game to new audiences and attracting new fans to the sport we love.

On behalf of the whole global rugby family, I would like to thank from the bottom of our hearts Japan and the Japanese people for being such wonderful, humble and history making hosts.

While South Africa will rightly take home the Webb Ellis Cup following their outstanding victory, the amazing Brave Blossoms undoubtedly brought some of the most memorable moments of the tournament…”

Rugby256 made predictions through out the 6 weeks long competition. We got many right and few wrong. The biggest wrong call was obviously the final where we thought England would win it based on largely the manner in which England overcame the All Blacks as compared to the way South Africa struggled against Wales.

All our predictions for the winners of the semis and quarters were spot on! At the pool stages we made a few wrong calls. In Pool A we had predicted Ireland would top the group followed by Scotland. Japan beat both to top the pool. In Pool C we had predicted Argentina would finish 2nd but France grabbed that slot behind England. In pool D our prediction had Australia as the top team followed by Wales but it became the other way around.

The 2019 RWC has been gigantic and that is very good for the entire ‘World in Union'. The bar has been raised too high and we shall await the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France. Great thanks to all the players, officials, participating teams, fans, volunteers, World Rugby and its global partners and last and not least, the Japanese people.

*Rugby 256* salutes the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby. Hope you enjoyed Rugby World Cup 2019. Do not forget to spread “The World Rugby Core Values: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect......“ We always appreciate you liking our official

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Jerome Garces referee for the final

Jerome Garces is the first French man to officiate at a final of the Rugby World Cup

Cup. He has had good and also average performances. The good man did the opening game of the Springboks vs the All Blacks on 21st September. Many Springbok fans felt he was inadequate and he was rather enjoying himself too much than doing the actual work of a match official.

Jared Milner started a petition to the World Rugby CEO and Rugby World Cup Limited (RWCL) MD, Brett Gosper. Jared sought to have the WR and RWCL to not have the referee handle any matches at the knockout stages. The petition had collected nearly 12,000 signatures by 25th October.

The World Rugby bosses have stood by Jerome and he will be a central part of the final. With all eyes on him expect the best from him.

Below is the statement from World Rugby:

TOKYO, 29 Oct – World Rugby has announced that France's Jérôme Garcès will referee the Rugby World Cup 2019 final between England and South Africa at International Stadium Yokohama on 2 November.

One of the world’s most experienced referees with 55 tests, Garcès will be the first Frenchman to take charge of a Rugby World Cup final, in what will be his 11th Rugby World Cup match.

Garcès will be joined by Romain Poite (France) and Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) as assistant referees and Ben Skeen (New Zealand) as TMO.

Garcès said: “I am honoured and delighted to be appointed to referee the Rugby World Cup 2019 final. It is a dream as a referee, but this is a team sport, and as a team of four, we will be out there to do the best for the teams, the fans, the sport, but also the entire match officials team, selectors and support team, who have worked so hard over the last four years, culminating in Rugby World Cup 2019.”

England's Wayne Barnes will take charge of the bronze final – as he did at RWC 2011 – between New Zealand and Wales at Tokyo Stadium on 1 November. It will be his 90th test match as a referee and his 21st at Rugby World Cup.

He will be joined by Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Pascal Gaüzère (France) as assistant referees and Marius Jonker (South Africa) as TMO.

The appointments were made after a comprehensive review of the weekend’s semi-finals by the World Rugby Match Officials Selection Committee comprising Chairman Anthony Buchanan (council member), Joel Jutge (EPCR), Lyndon Bray (SANZAAR), Nick Mallett (former international coach) and Alain Rolland (World Rugby).

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “This has been one of the great Rugby World Cups, perhaps the greatest and there is significant excitement ahead of what promises to be an exceptional final between two former champions – England and South Africa.

“Our match officials have played their full role in this special tournament and I would like to congratulate Jérôme and the team on their appointments, which are thoroughly deserved. I would like to wish them all the best for what promises to be a very exciting finale to Rugby World Cup 2019.”

Previous Rugby World Cup final referees:

1987 - Kerry Fitzgerald (AUS)

1991 - Derek Bevan (WAL)

1995 - Ed Morrison (ENG

)1999 - Andre Watson (RSA)

2003 - Andre Watson (RSA)

2007 - Alain Rolland (IRE)

2011 - Craig Joubert (RSA)

2015 - Nigel Owens (WAL)

Rugby 256 salutes the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby. Hope you enjoyed Rugby World Cup 2019. Do not forget to spread “The World Rugby Core Values: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect.. “ We always appreciate you liking our official

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Cape Town named as host for 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens

The awarding of the tournament to South Africa comes after an initial record of 11 unions

CAPE TOWN, South Africa, October 29, 2019/ -- Cape Town has been named by World Rugby as host venue for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

The announcement was made in Tokyo on Tuesday after the World Rugby Council awarded the hosting rights for the premier tournament to South Africa at its Interim Meeting.

In September 2022 the eighth edition of the showcase event will take place in Cape Town in what will be the first time that Rugby World Cup Sevens has been hosted on the African continent.

“We’re delighted that South Africa and Cape Town has been confirmed as hosts for the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens,” said Jurie Roux, CEO of SA Rugby.

“We have been eager to host global rugby tournaments for a number of years and to have the flagship event in the growing sport of Sevens come to South Africa is exciting.

“We saw how the sport engaged the audience in San Francisco last year and we are certain that it will be just as big a success in Cape Town.”

The world’s best 24 men’s and 16 women’s rugby sevens teams will take to the field at the Cape Town Stadium in Green Point where they will compete for world champion status over three days of exhilarating action.

The 55,000-capacity stadium is the venue that hosts the hugely successful HSBC Cape Town Sevens. This year the venue will host both men’s and women’s teams across three days of competition for the first time.

The arrival of the event on the African continent for the first time was also welcomed by Mr Khaled Babbou, the president of Rugby Africa: “Rugby Africa is very proud and happy that this tournament is coming to Africa,” he said. “It will add to the growth of the game on the continent. Congratulations to the South African Rugby Union.”

The awarding of the tournament to South Africa comes after an initial record of 11 unions – Argentina, Cayman Islands, France, Germany, India, Jamaica, Malaysia, Qatar, Scotland, South Africa and Tunisia – confirmed an expression of interest to the international federation.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said: “Congratulations to South Africa on being elected Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 hosts. We were impressed with South Africa’s detailed and comprehensive bid and we look forward to working in partnership with them on another inspiring and record-breaking tournament.

“South Africa have a proven track record of delivering a sell-out event in the HSBC Cape Town Sevens, which is an esteemed tournament on the world series circuit and will be of huge value to the planning and execution of Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022.

“About to make its second appearance on the Olympic Games programme at Tokyo 2020, rugby sevens is an innovative and thriving format of the game that has enormous appeal, and we are excited about the positive impact that another successful Rugby World Cup Sevens will have on our sport.”

The 2022 tournament follows an exceptional Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco which attracted a record attendance for a rugby event in the USA of more than 100,000 fans as well as a huge domestic broadcast audience of more than nine million viewers.

The three-day event, hosted at AT&T Park, generated a US$90.5 million economic contribution to San Francisco (Nielsen Sport) and saw both New Zealand’s men’s and women’s teams take the title.

Roux said: “The HSBC Cape Town Sevens has established itself as a rugby bucket-list tournament in the past few years and we’re sure that international visitors to the event will experience a great tournament at an ideal rugby venue in a fantastic city.”

Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 will be played during September 2022 considering the international calendar, including the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the Commonwealth Games that will take place in Birmingham, England in July 2022.

Competition dates will be confirmed in due course.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of South Africa Rugby Union.

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The 2019 Rugby World Cup Bronze Final Preview.

Kickoff: 12 Noon (EAT), 1st November 2019.

Wales will come face to face with New Zealand at the Tokyo Stadium in Tokyo City. Both teams would rather be in the final but they fell to the finalists last weekend. Both coaches Steve Hansen of New Zealand and Warren Garland of Wales will both be in charge of their respective teams for the last time. Both are Kiwis. Steve Hansen is also a former Wales Head Coach.

Both teams are still hurting from the semis and this could be the most difficult game to raise up the fighting spirits of the players on both sides. The Welsh have made 9 changes to the squad while New Zealand have made 7. For the All Blacks will also bid farewell to players Sonny Bill Williams, Ben Smith, Ryan Crotty, Matt Todd and Captain Kieran Read. The Welsh will bid byes to their Captain Alun Wyn Jones (143 caps), Defense Coach Shaun Edwards and Forwards Coach Robin McBryde.

The playing record between the two sides is lopsided. The first Test between the two adversaries goes way back in 1905 when Wales won 3-0 at the Cardiff Arms Park during 1905-06 the All Blacks tour to Europe and Northern America. There have been a total of 34 games between these sides with New Zealand garnering 31 wins and Wales 3.

The Welsh last beat the Kiwis on 19th December 1953 and since then have gone to lose 30 games straight. These are the figures that will help spur the Welsh into an overdrive against the World's most successful team. The Welsh have had many injuries over the past 6 weeks hence more changes on the squad. Warren Garland who has been in charge of Wales for 12 solid years would want to pull one back on his Countryman.

Apart from National pride at stake, the World Rugby rankings will play a smaller part. New Zealand find themselves in a strange 3rd position while Wales are today ranked 4th. Both sides want to leave Tokyo, Japan with a win. Hansen was in charge of the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand which was under Steve Hansen.

Rugby256 predicts a New Zealand win based on their well known bounce after a loss and they seem to have fresher bodies. What is your prediction?

Rugby 256 salutes the entire rugby fraternity for the all they do for Rugby. Hope you enjoyed Rugby World Cup 2019. Do not forget to spread “The World Rugby Core Values: Integrity, Passion, Solidarity, Discipline and Respect.... “ We always appreciate you liking our official

facebook page @rugby256, instagram @rugby256er,

twitter @rugby256 and subscribe to our Youtube channel @Rugby256TV

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