Cranes Grounded: Kenya Ends Uganda’s 2027 Rugby World Cup Dream in Kampala
With a boisterous home crowd cheering them on, the Rugby Cranes gave everything in a bruising encounter that will be remembered as one of the most hotly contested fixtures of the tournament. However, Kenya's early dominance, tactical discipline, and a late drop goal proved to be the difference in this East African derby, leaving Uganda’s campaign in ruins.
Uganda’s aspirations of reaching the 2027 Rugby World Cup came to a crushing halt on home soil after a spirited but ultimately heartbreaking 32-24 loss to bitter rivals Kenya in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup at Namboole Stadium.
With a boisterous home crowd cheering them on, the Rugby Cranes gave everything in a bruising encounter that will be remembered as one of the most hotly contested fixtures of the tournament. However, Kenya's early dominance, tactical discipline, and a late drop goal proved to be the difference in this East African derby, leaving Uganda’s campaign in ruins.
The clash at Namboole was more than just a quarter-final — it was a renewal of one of Africa’s fiercest rugby rivalries. Kenya’s Simbas, who narrowly edged Uganda in the previous tournament rankings, came out firing and stamped their authority early with a 12-0 lead, capitalizing on Uganda’s tentative start.
Scrumhalf Aaron Ofoyworth brought life back into the contest with a beautifully executed try just before the break. Philip Wokorach, Uganda’s talisman fullback who plies his trade in France, added the conversion to reduce the deficit to 12-7 at halftime — giving fans a glimmer of hope.
Despite the momentum gained late in the first half, Uganda struggled to contain Kenya's forward pack in the second period. Kenya's dominance in the breakdown and scrum led to two swift tries that widened the margin, making it 26-10 at one point.
Wokorach and team captain Byron Oketayot scored in the final minutes to cut the lead to just eight points. Yet Kenya's flyhalf Jone Kubu Tavaga delivered a late drop goal that not only silenced the crowd but sealed Uganda’s fate. Kenya marched on to the semi-finals, booking a high-stakes showdown with reigning champions Zimbabwe.
This year’s Rugby Africa Cup is particularly significant, as only the tournament winner secures automatic qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. The runner-up gets a final lifeline through a repechage playoff against a representative from Asia.
Uganda’s elimination means their best possible finish now is fifth place — a bitter pill for a side that had shown glimpses of top-tier potential throughout the year.
While Uganda-Kenya was the closest quarter-final, other top-ranked sides made light work of their opponents:
Zimbabwe thrashed Morocco 43-8, Namibia overpowered Senegal 55-17, Algeria cruised past Ivory Coast 41-16.
These results set up thrilling semi-final matchups:
Algeria ?? vs ?? Namibia
Zimbabwe ?? vs ?? Kenya
Hosting the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup was a major undertaking for Uganda, with the National Council of Sports (NCS) investing UGX 7 billion to ensure a world-class event. This included upgrades to the Mandela National Stadium (Namboole), logistics, team accommodations, training facilities, and security.
NCS General Secretary Dr. Bernard Patrick Ogwel hailed the organization and atmosphere of the tournament, stating:
“While the result on the pitch was not what we hoped for, Uganda has shown the world that we can host a continental event of the highest standard. Our investment is not just for this tournament but for the future of Ugandan sport.”
Though their World Cup dream is over, the Rugby Cranes have earned plaudits for their resilience and development. The Uganda Rugby Union will now shift focus to youth development, domestic leagues, and regional competitions to strengthen the pipeline of talent.
Team coach Fred Mudoola commended the team for their grit but emphasized the need for sharper execution:
“We fell short in key moments, and against quality sides like Kenya, that’s costly. But the character shown by our players is something to build on.”
Uganda’s journey in the 2025 Rugby Africa Cup may have ended earlier than hoped, but their passion, organization, and fight have left a mark. As Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, and Algeria battle for Africa’s sole World Cup spot, Uganda can take pride in having been the gracious and capable host of a tournament that showcased the best of African rugby.
By John Kusolo – Sports Reporter, Kampala
