Elgon Cup: Uganda, Kenya in old rivalry

New captain Mugerwa will hope the Rugby Cranes can kick off the international season with one over eternal rivals Kenya at Legends today. PHOTO BY EDDIE CHICCO

What you need to know:

  • Rugby. Ivan Magomu and Philip Wokorach will be pleased to have wing Kimono’s finishing ability today.

KAMPALA.

Old foes Uganda and Kenya have their eyes elsewhere – the Africa Rugby Gold Cup starting next month.
That tournament that kicks off on June 16 also features Namibia, Zimbabwe, Tunisia and Morocco.
The prize upon the completion of the Africa Gold Cup on August 18 is a place in next year’s Rugby World Cup in Japan.
Even before the first scrum, Namibia who are five-time Rugby World Cup finalists are favourites.
The other five should, realistically, focus on locking second place, which will come with a place in the playoffs with teams from other confederations. This has reduced to today’s Elgon Cup first leg tie at Legends Rugby Grounds between Rugby Cranes and Kenya’s Simbas to a ‘minor’ skirmish like it has been the last three years.
“It’s a derby; two neighbours, two rivals. It’s going to be venomous and for us it’s an opportunity to hit the ground running with more tough games coming,” coach John Duncan told SCORE.
“If we stick to what we have been working on, the score will take care of its self. However, both teams know the result could set the tone for the bigger fish they all hope to fry. Even then, both teams have so many upstarts. Prop Asuman Mugerwa will lead Uganda for the first with Justin Kimono as his deputy in the absence of Brian Odongo and Michael Wokorach who have served in those roles since 2014. Odongo underwent knee surgery while Wokorach is being ‘rested’. On the other hand, lock Davis Chenge will lead the visitors for the first time, replacing injured Wilson K’Opondo.

Friendly foes
“Playing Kenya never gets old for the boys, these kind of games have all to fight for and we want to enjoy every bit of it as a team. We are ready to push for a positive result,” reasoned Mugerwa.
The hosts have as many as seven uncapped players in the 23 while Kenya boast five with both sides picking at least two debuting front rowers. Duncan and Robert Seguya have opted to start hooker Paul Ssekate after his impressive show in the trial games. Simbas’ head coach Ian Snook’s 23-man squad will have two debutants in props Patrick Ooko and Joseph Odero plus lock Andrew Chogo.
To find the cutting edge, Rugby Cranes will look to fly-half Ivan Magomu and eighth man Marvin Odongo to break the line, something they excelled at last year.

TODAY AT LEGENDS RFC
ELGON CUP
Uganda vs. Kenya, 4.30pm
UNIVERSITY CURTAIN RAISERS
UMU vs. UCU, 11.30am
Kyambogo vs. Makerere, 2.30pm