Matooke Republic
Saturday, July 12, 2025
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos
  • Relationships
Matooke Republic
  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos
  • Relationships
No Result
View All Result
Matooke Republic
No Result
View All Result

2018: The year of the Pirate and the 7s Rugby Cranes

William Kasoba by William Kasoba
December 14, 2018
in Featured Stories, Sports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Uganda might have joined the ranks of rugby playing nations as far back as 1958 when it played its first official rugby game, but in a sport with a well-demarcated and hardly changing boundary between heavyweights and lesser lights, there was never a debate that the Rugby Cranes found their home in the latter category.

Well, that changed for at least a week when Uganda made it to its first Rugby Sevens World Cup, confirming a growing status the game as one of the country’s favourite and fastest progressing sports disciplines.

Yet, everything must start with the game being in the right kind of health domestically. And there was no better embodiment of that wonderful health than Black Pirates.

Black Pirates become ‘boss’ on the local scene
The 2017/18 campaign will always be one to remember in the history of the Black Pirates and Ugandan rugby overall. The Pirates enjoyed their most successful season, winning a first Rugby Premiership title and the National Sevens title to boot. The Pirates then came close to claiming a treble, only to lose the Uganda Cup final to Betway Kobs.

Rugby Sevens play at maiden Rugby World Cup Sevens
After years of registering near misses, Uganda Rugby Sevens in 2017 finally qualified for the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens after defeating Zimbabwe 10-7 in a hard-fought final played at Legends.

That ensured that they retained the 2017 Africa Cup Sevens and in addition to their 2018 World Cup qualification, coach Tolbert Onyango’s boys also made it to the 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. The results at the Sevens World Cup in the USA may have been forgettable, but a 19th place finish was nothing to scoff at for a debuting side.

Strike over allowances disrupts Gold Cup campaign
Not all was rosy, however. Following a good showing in the 2017 Gold Cup campaign, the Rugby Cranes were tipped to do better this time around.

The campaign did not go to plan, with the team settling for third place once again. The real disaster of the campaign came to the public eye in the last game, as the boys threatened not to feature in a game Zimbabwe unless their allowances were paid.

The resulting disruption was enough to lead to a 38-18 loss at home.

RELATED POSTS

Jacob Kiplimo shines at Samsung Galaxy Unpacked as new Galaxy Watch 8 launches

CHAN Shs37.2 billion prize money: How much will each team get?

Related

Tags: PiratesRugby 7sRugby Cranes
Share3Tweet1Send
William Kasoba

William Kasoba

Related Posts

Victoria University Crowned 2024 University 7’s Rugby Champions

by Matooke Republic
8 months ago

...

Rugby Cranes players in action. Photo credit, MTN Uganda.

Rugby Africa Cup: Uganda secures 5th place playoff with win over Burkina Faso

by Matooke Republic
12 months ago

...

Uganda's skipper Ivan Magomu holding the ball poses with other captains during the official photoshoot.

Rugby Africa Cup set to kick off in Uganda on Saturday

by Matooke Republic
12 months ago

...

Guinness joins fans to cheer on Rugby Cranes with perfect serve

by Matooke Republic
1 year ago

...

Namboole to host 2024 and 2025 Rugby Africa Cup editions

by Matooke Republic
1 year ago

...

Next Post

Meet a former radio presenter who abandoned the mic to grow yams

HEALTH: Why you really need to eat grasshoppers

RECOMMENDED

Bebe Cool pushes for East African collaboration and use of collective numbers to take over the world musically

July 11, 2025
Fatuma Bbuye Nabiwemba.

State Prosecutor found dead at her home in Kasangati

July 11, 2025
  • 643 Followers
  • 23.9k Followers

MOST VIEWED

  • Here is how to use NIRA’s new online portal to register or renew your national ID

    3923 shares
    Share 1569 Tweet 981
  • DNA test confirms late MP Ssegirinya was father to only 4 of 9 children presented after his death

    97 shares
    Share 39 Tweet 24
  • Kampala University proprietor Prof Kateregga’s wife rejects DNA results indicating one of three children is not his, demands fresh test in the United States

    94 shares
    Share 38 Tweet 24
  • Properties owned by late billionaire Aponye at risk of auction over Shs15 billion loan arrears

    78 shares
    Share 31 Tweet 20
  • Pastor Bugingo’s daughter Doreen Gift awarded scholarship to Arizona State University in the US

    61 shares
    Share 24 Tweet 15
Matooke Republic

Uganda's only free Newspaper. Out every Thursday. Freshly peeled info. kiwatule, Kampala, Uganda.

  • Home
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Gossip
  • Features
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Health
  • Photos

© Matooke Republic 2024

© Matooke Republic 2024

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.