Elgon Cup postponed as Kenya and Uganda adjust for World Cup path

© Uganda Rugby Union.

Elgon Cup postponed as Kenya and Uganda adjust for World Cup path

Festus Chuma 20:00 - 28.10.2024

Kenya and Uganda have rescheduled the 2024 Elgon Cup, adjusting dates and venues for the highly anticipated rugby showdown.

Kenya Rugby Union and Uganda Rugby Union have come together to announce new dates and host locations for the 2024 Elgon Cup.

Following a consultative meeting held on Saturday, October 26, the two unions issued a joint statement confirming that the first leg of the tournament will now be hosted in Nairobi, Kenya, on Saturday, November 9, with the second leg scheduled for November 16 in Kampala, Uganda.

The statement, signed by Uganda Rugby Union President Godwin Arinaitwe Kayangwe and Kenya Rugby Union Chairman Alexander Mutai, emphasized the collaborative nature of the decision and expressed gratitude toward fans and stakeholders for their understanding and continued support.

“We appreciate all fans’ and stakeholders’ understanding and support and look forward to delivering an exciting tournament on the new dates,” the statement read.

Originally slated for a November 2 kickoff in Uganda, the tournament's schedule revision comes at a crucial time, particularly as both unions navigate competing demands for resources and focus.

This includes preparing for next year’s Rugby World Cup qualifiers, where Kenya and Uganda are anticipated to face off in what could be a dramatic quarterfinal match-up in Uganda.

According to an inside source from the Kenyan team, the changes raise questions regarding funding, with suggestions that the Elgon Cup might need to be shelved altogether to conserve resources for the high-stakes World Cup qualification pathway.

"There’s a sentiment within the team that the union should prioritize next year’s World Cup qualifiers. The Elgon Cup is important, but the qualifiers present a larger stage for both nations," the source shared.

The Simbas last competed in the Africa Cup in July and had not gathered as a team until now, when a 35-man squad was named for the upcoming Elgon Cup matches.

Jerome Paarwater, who continues to shape the squad, announced that the training camp for the Elgon Cup would take place in Kakamega, where players would undergo a residential camp this week before traveling by road to Uganda for the opening leg at Kingspark Arena.

The squad has seen only minor adjustments from those who trained for the Rugby Africa Cup, with Paarwater retaining a core group of players familiar with his tactical approach.

A notable absence is Bryceson Adaka, who will miss the Elgon Cup due to an injury he sustained a few months ago.

Adding to the limited squad depth, key foreign-based players will also be unavailable, including Andrew Siminyu and Thomas Okeyo, who are currently based in South Africa, and Malcolm Onsando, who plays in Romania.

Meanwhile, in a strategic move reflecting the packed international calendar, the women’s Elgon Cup has been canceled following a request from the Kenya Rugby Union.

Citing scheduling conflicts with the upcoming Women’s Rugby Africa 7s tournament, which will be held in Accra, Ghana, on November 9-10, Kenya expressed its inability to field a fully competitive women’s team for the Elgon Cup.

Uganda, also slated to compete in Accra, acknowledged the decision with mutual understanding.

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