It has been announcements galore as the Uganda Rugby Union released statement after statement. First, officially announcing the 40 Woman training squad for the Rugby Africa Cup Division One, then confirming the loud whispers that have been going around. Charles Cyphus Onen is the new Lady Cranes Rugby 15s coach. This change comes after the 15s ladies haven’t had action in the past year, only playing 2 tests against Tunisia in November 2023. In their first training ahead of the April competition in Ivory Coast, 32 of the 40 announced ladies turned up for the session that was led by the now Rugby 7s & 15s coach, Onen, assisted by coach Byron Okuba. Where are they? The first session being at 3pm on a Wednesday, and only having 8 absentees is a win for the start. Most notable of the absentees were Flyhalf Tina Akello of the Nile Rapids and Emilly Lekuru of the Black Pearls. Unsurprisingly, the ladies making the trip from as far as Mbale and Kitgum couldn’t make it for the midweek session that was meant to assess the players and where they are. So, where are they? The squad consists of several 7s players, who were pulled out of the Krakow leg of the 7s Challenger Series due to visa issues. In URUs statement where they announced the new coaches, they noted that the heavy inclusion of these 7s players partially influenced the appointment of Onen. The task ahead now is how to gel the 15s players with the more conditioned 7s players, a task to be handled by Coach Byron Okuba. With the local Nile Special Rugby women’s league taking a break after this weekend, the coaches shall have enough time to assess where their players are; physically, mentally and competition readiness. Expect no further inclusions. “There are no players expected to join unless the need arises, and that has to be BIG,” Shafic Kiyaga, the Uganda Rugby Union spokesperson confirmed. From the current 40-woman training squad, the coaches shall have to pick their tournament team for the competition that will take place from April 9th to 19th in Yamoussoukro, Ivory Coast.