Rugby union in Uganda
Encyclopedia
Rugby union
has been played in Uganda since colonial times when it was introduced by the British.
had been very athletic in his time in the army. At 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) tall, he was the Ugandan light heavyweight
boxing
champion from 1951 to 1960, and also a swimmer and rugby player. He played rugby initially with the Nile R.F.C. and later for the Kobs R.F.C. in Kampala. Amin also said in one of his speeches,
Although on an official evaluation one of his officers once wrote of him:
There is a frequently repeated urban legend
that he was selected as a replacement by East Africa
for their match against the 1955
British Lions
. The story is entirely unfounded, he does not appear on the team photograph or on the official team list and replacements were not allowed in international rugby until 13 years after this event is supposed to have taken place.
in Nakawa
, where state-run newspaper New Vision
was hosting a screening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final
.
have been playing rugby since the late 1950s, playing their first international against Kenya in 1958. They have not yet qualified for the Rugby World Cup
. Uganda plays in red.
Originally Uganda, along with Tanzania and Kenya was represented by the East Africa rugby union team
. This consisted mostly of white settlers from Kenya, and the games tended to be hosted in Nairobi
.
The British and Irish Lions
played games against an East African side, on their 1955 tour
, and 1962 tour
s (losing 50-0).
Uganda also has a women's team
, and a rugby sevens
team.
The second most important competition is the Nile Special Uganda Cup. The current holders are the Kobs who defeated the Heathens 19-9 in the final, which took place at 30 October 2010.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
has been played in Uganda since colonial times when it was introduced by the British.
Idi Amin and rugby
A notable fan of all Ugandan sports, the dictator Idi AminIdi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
had been very athletic in his time in the army. At 193 cm (6 ft 4 in) tall, he was the Ugandan light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion from 1951 to 1960, and also a swimmer and rugby player. He played rugby initially with the Nile R.F.C. and later for the Kobs R.F.C. in Kampala. Amin also said in one of his speeches,
- "As you know I am a rugby player. I am second row, so I know how to push. I am very big. You don't want to push against me. And I also play wing three-quarter and I am very fast. I can run one hundred meters in nine point five seconds (applause). If you tackle me, you will try, and you will hurt only yourself. So to everyone who is a boxer, I say this, do what you have to do to knock out your opponent."
Although on an official evaluation one of his officers once wrote of him:
- "Idi Amin is a splendid type and a good [rugby] player, but virtually bone from the neck up, and needs things explained in words of one letter."
There is a frequently repeated urban legend
Urban legend
An urban legend, urban myth, urban tale, or contemporary legend, is a form of modern folklore consisting of stories that may or may not have been believed by their tellers to be true...
that he was selected as a replacement by East Africa
East Africa rugby union team
Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
for their match against the 1955
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
British Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
. The story is entirely unfounded, he does not appear on the team photograph or on the official team list and replacements were not allowed in international rugby until 13 years after this event is supposed to have taken place.
2010 Kampala attacks
In July, 2010, Ugandan rugby hit the headlines, when one of two locations hit by terrorist attacks was Kyadondo Rugby ClubKyadondo Rugby Club
Kyadondo Rugby Club is a rugby union ground in Kampala, Uganda.It was built in 2000. Facilities include main ground, a training pitch and a club house .The ground is home to several club teams, among them MTN Heathens, a leading rugby club in Uganda...
in Nakawa
Nakawa
Nakawa is an area in the city of Kampala, Uganda's capital. It is also the location of the headquarters of Nakawa Division, one of the five administrative divisions of Kampala.-Location:Nakawa is located on the eastern edge of the city of Kampala...
, where state-run newspaper New Vision
New Vision
New Vision is one of two main national newspapers in Uganda.-History:It was established in its current form in 1986 by the Ugandan Government. New Vision is broadly sympathetic to the government of President Yoweri Museveni. It was founded in 1955 as the Uganda Argus, a British colonial government...
was hosting a screening of the 2010 FIFA World Cup Final
2010 FIFA World Cup Final
The 2010 FIFA World Cup Final was a football match that took place on 11 July 2010 at Soccer City in Johannesburg, South Africa, to determine the winner of the 2010 FIFA World Cup. Spain defeated the Netherlands 1–0 with a goal from Andrés Iniesta four minutes from the end of extra time...
.
National team
UgandaUganda national rugby union team
The Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958...
have been playing rugby since the late 1950s, playing their first international against Kenya in 1958. They have not yet qualified for the Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
. Uganda plays in red.
Originally Uganda, along with Tanzania and Kenya was represented by the East Africa rugby union team
East Africa rugby union team
Established in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
. This consisted mostly of white settlers from Kenya, and the games tended to be hosted in Nairobi
Nairobi
Nairobi is the capital and largest city of Kenya. The city and its surrounding area also forms the Nairobi County. The name "Nairobi" comes from the Maasai phrase Enkare Nyirobi, which translates to "the place of cool waters". However, it is popularly known as the "Green City in the Sun" and is...
.
The British and Irish Lions
British and Irish Lions
The British and Irish Lions is a rugby union team made up of players from England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales...
played games against an East African side, on their 1955 tour
1955 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1955 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. The Lions drew the test series against , each team winning two of the four matches. They won the first test by a single point and the third by three points and lost the second and fourth matches by wider margins...
, and 1962 tour
1962 British Lions tour to South Africa
In 1962 the British Lions rugby union team toured Southern and Eastern Africa. Overall the tourists played twenty-five matches, winning sixteen, losing five and drawing four....
s (losing 50-0).
Uganda also has a women's team
Uganda women's national rugby union team
The Uganda women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Uganda, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 2005.-Results summary:-Results:...
, and a rugby sevens
Uganda national rugby union team (sevens)
The Uganda national rugby union sevens is a minor national sevens side.-Rugby Sevens at the 2006 Commonwealth Games:Group D matches -* Tonga 26–19 South Africa* Samoa 31–10 Uganda* South Africa 63–7 Uganda* Samoa 25–0 Tonga* Uganda 24–14 Tonga...
team.
Competitions
The main national competition of Uganda rugby is Nile Special Premier League, currently disputed by 8 teams. They are:- Entebbe Mongers
- G4S Pirates
- Nile
- Makerere Impis
- MTN Heathens
- Rhinos
- UTL Kobs
The second most important competition is the Nile Special Uganda Cup. The current holders are the Kobs who defeated the Heathens 19-9 in the final, which took place at 30 October 2010.
See also
- Uganda national rugby union teamUganda national rugby union teamThe Uganda national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Uganda, representing them at rugby union. Rugby union was introduced by the British during colonial rule and Uganda played their first international game against Kenya in 1958...
- Uganda women's national rugby union teamUganda women's national rugby union teamThe Uganda women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of the Uganda, representing them at rugby union. The side first played in 2005.-Results summary:-Results:...
- East Africa rugby union teamEast Africa rugby union teamEstablished in 1950, The East Africa rugby union team is a multi-national rugby union team drawing players from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, though the vast majority of these came from Kenya which has traditionally been the strongest rugby playing nation in this part of the world...
- Confederation of African RugbyConfederation of African RugbyThe Confederation of African Rugby is governing body for rugby union within Africa. The Confederation currently has 37 member nations and is responsible for running various rugby tournaments within Africa, especially the Africa Cup, and CAR Super 16.-History:The Confederation was officially...
- Africa CupAfrica CupThe Africa Cup is an annual rugby union tournament involving African nations, organised by the Confederation of African Rugby . The tournament was first held in 2000, and has since been contested on an annual basis...