• Africa’s Rugby Gold Rush in Accra

    Africa's Rugby Gold Rush in Accra
    Published on | 43 Responses

    This was rugby history – and it was special to be at the University of Ghana in Accra for the first ever African Games rugby gold medal presentation, writes MARK KEOHANE.

    Rugby was first played in the African Games in 1987 as an exhibition/demonstration sport but this week, 37 years later, the history belonged to the 13th edition of the African Games in Accra, where rugby made its debut as a competitive sport.

    Uganda’s men and women triumphed, doing the golden double, on a day where the sport was celebrated in West Africa and across the continent.

    World Rugby’s mission statement is to grow the sport globally and while most of the attention is focused on Europe, South America, Asia and the Pacific Islands, the biggest growth area is in the African continent, home to over a billion people.

    I have been blessed to report on rugby from so many cities and countries over the past 35 years. This beautiful game has taken me to North America, South America, many parts of Europe, the United Kingdom and Ireland, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia and New Zealand.

    Within the continent it has been primarily sub-Saharan Africa and every city and province in South Africa, getting to Windhoek, Harare and popping into Zambia. Nairobi was the extent of my East Africa exposure in covering Kenya’s World Cup qualifiers many years ago.

    But this was a first for me in West Africa and to be witnessing rugby history and to walk the first ever field created for rugby specifically in West Africa is a rugby writing career highlight.

    The facility at the University of Ghana is world class – and it is a credit to the organizers.

    The 13th African Games, the property of the African Union, was originally scheduled for 2023, but had to be postponed until March, 2024, and that impacted on the availability of several teams who were preparing for Paris’s Summer Olympics qualification, with the global showpiece starting in the last week of July.

    South Africa, given the Olympic qualification, was not in Accra, and Kenya, equally busy with Olympic qualification, sent a youthful squad. In the absence of South Africa and a full-strength Kenya, Uganda ignited the three-day event in being unbeaten in all the matches played by the men’s and women’s squads.

    The gold was decided by a points league system, instead of a final, and both Uganda’s teams had secured gold before their final matches. Both won four matches in succession respectively, with the women beating Madagascar 29-0 in their final outing and the men too strong for Kenya in a 21-14 win.

    Kenya led through an early converted try, but Uganda scored 21 unanswered points before Kenya scored in the final minute.

    Uganda’s Philip Wokorach was sublime in scoring two tries. He constantly troubled Kenya with his footwork and explosiveness in splitting the defence.

    South Africa’s Sevens specialists may not have been in Accra, but the country’s most celebrated Sevens specialist Seabelo Senatla was in Accra as part of Ghana’s coaching team.

    Senatla was invited to consult with the host nation and his reward was to experience Ghana beat Zimbabwe. The latter would claim the silver, but Senatla described Ghana’s triumph as ‘stunning’.

    Senatla played 203 tournaments for the Blitzboks between 2013 and 2018 and scored 224 tries for 1120 points. He is an Olympic bronze medalist and a Commonwealth and World Games gold medalist. He has also played a combined 100 matches for the Cape Town-based Stormers and Western Province in XVs.

    Senatla applauded the event organisers and singled out the passion of the players and coaches.

    ‘There is such a love for the sport among the men and women and there is so much natural talent, skill and enthusiasm. The sport will only grow within the African Games, and the greater the exposure at future Games, the greater rugby’s footprint in Africa,’ said Senatla.

    I’ve reported on every one of rugby’s top 20 countries and some outside of the top 20, but to be watching Nigeria, Benin, Burkina Fasu, Madagascar and Tunisia somehow seemed extra special in this historic rugby week in Accra.

    Herbert Mensah, president of Rugby Afrique/Africa, said: ‘It is a historic moment for our sport and for the continent. My congratulations to Ghana. The African Games serve as a testament to our continent’s commitment to sports. It is a platform where our athletes can shine, our nations can unite, and the shared passion for the game can be celebrated on a grand scale.’

    The next African Games will be in 2027.

    Photos: Lauren Fredericks

    Article written by

    Keo has written about South African and international rugby professionally for the last 25 years

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