Uganda’s Rugby Cranes Withdraw from Africa 7s Tournament Due to Ebola Travel Restrictions

Uganda’s participation in the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens has been cancelled after the Rugby Cranes 7s were compelled to withdraw from the continental tournament in Mauritius due to Ebola-related travel protocols.

Uganda Rugby officially confirmed on Wednesday that the national sevens squad will be unable to compete in the event, which is set to take place on June 20-21 at SPARC in Cascavelle, Mauritius.

The withdrawal follows strict measures implemented by Mauritian authorities, which temporarily restrict the entry of foreign nationals who have traveled through, transited from, or been present in Uganda, South Sudan, or the Democratic Republic of Congo within the last 21 days.

“Uganda Rugby wishes to inform all stakeholders and fans that the Rugby Cranes 7s will not be participating in the 2026 Rugby Africa Mauritius Sevens,” stated Uganda Rugby President Godwin Arinaitwe Kayangwe.

This development is a significant disappointment for the Rugby Cranes 7s, who had been preparing to face Africa’s premier rugby nations in a tournament that also marks Rugby Africa’s 40th anniversary.

The competition features a 12-team lineup, including hosts Mauritius, defending champions South Africa, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Morocco, Madagascar, Tunisia, Nigeria, Ghana, Burkina Faso, and Ivory Coast.

Despite this setback, Uganda Rugby indicated that they are currently in discussions to mitigate the impact on the national team’s international schedule.

“Rugby Africa, the Rugby Committee, and Uganda Rugby are actively collaborating to explore potential pathways for HSBC Division 3 Qualification,” the official statement clarified.

The federation emphasized that the health and safety of all players and officials remain their primary concern as the Ebola outbreak continues to affect regional travel and athletic engagements.

“Our commitment to the safety of our players, staff, and supporters is unwavering, and we will provide further updates as negotiations continue,” the statement concluded.

Uganda is among the most recent sporting entities impacted by health-related travel restrictions, highlighting growing concerns regarding the influence of disease outbreaks on international sporting calendars.

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