The Blackbucks have started preparations for the inaugural Africa women’s cup 7’s tournament set for August 7-9 in East London city, South Africa. The team has been undergoing non-residential training for the past three months preparing for the Kyadondo women’s international rugby 7’s tournament which was postponed from June 21 to a yet another unknown date. The Rwanda Rugby Federation president Alexis Kamanzi said yesterday that Rwanda must take part in this tournament. “We are already gathering our troops to enhance the Blackbucks preparations. The girls will need ample logistics and other essential materials to enable them compete against Africa’s top rugby players,” Kamanzi said. However, the rugby federation has been dealt a major blow as they were hoping to use the Kyadondo women’s tournament as a means of preparing a solid team for the African tournament in South Africa. The Blackbucks has made tremendous strides in East Africa ever since their 80-00 demolition by Uganda’s Thunderbirds in 2005. Blackbuck is currently one of the best rugby playing teams in Africa, currently ranked 8th on the continental scene. The tournament will be the first high profile event for the Rwandan team and it will be used as preparation for the 2009 7s World Cup in Dubai. Meanwhile, the national women’s rugby team, the Blackbacks will contend with the world’s best at the inaugural Africa Women’s Cup 7’s tournament slated for next month in South Africa. The 16 countries include; England, New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Samoa, France, Wales, USA, Canada, Zimbabwe, Morocco, Kenya, Zambia, Tunisia, Uganda and Rwanda. “The mere fact that Rwanda was drawn in the tournament is great news for us. The event will merge Africa’s top eight nations with the world’s top eight nations,” Janvier Ugeziwe, the secretary general of the local rugby governing body acknowledged. Ends
