The Uganda Rugby Union is taking decisive steps to strengthen its under 20 (U20) rugby program, aiming to secure a brighter future for the sport in the country. This past weekend, the U20 squad participated in a high-profile opening match at Mandela National Stadium featuring the Uganda Rugby Legends, and the touring Tritons team.

Split into two groups, the young athletes drawn from schools, feeder clubs, and regions across Uganda showcased their talents and left a strong impression on supporters. Team manager Dennis Etuket emphasized that this event reflected deliberate preparation focused on long-term development rather than immediate results.

The Genesis:

Reflecting on the recent Rugby Africa Cup 2025 hosted in Uganda, Etuket acknowledged the team’s shortcomings. “We believed we could qualify for the World Cup, but our investment was in the outcome rather than the process. The teams we were playing had already placed their athletes into strong age-grade systems, some of whom we played against in the previous Bathes Cup competitions. Moving forward, our plan is to put our players into a continuous development cycle, to prepare them for the next World Cup Cycle,” he explained.

On top of having an active school’s league, we planned to have a platform to groom the players more. Outsourcing players involved engaging the clubs to ensure that the clubs are also engaged in the process. Our request to the clubs was, they had to share with us names for players they wanted us to look at, and take up. Additionally, we looked around various regions, and feeder teams for players we believed had the potential. We got them and combined them into camp with an aim to refine their skills, and foster team cohesion.

More opportunities to be tested:

Whatever we are doing is aimed at getting back to Tier 1 A, where we aim to be playing with athletes from different countries who we believe will be playing for their countries in the next years, we plan to structure a process that will match the level of competition for the future starting with the U20 team. Our strategy involves creating a structured development pathway. We have a number of events planned both locally, and against neighbouring countries to further test the players Etuket added.

The current U20 roster includes several standout players who have impressed in school competitions with tactical acumen and skillful performances. Supported by this bridging program, Uganda Rugby is optimistic about nurturing a new generation of athletes poised for success on the international stage.