CAPE TOWN, South Africa, May 13, 2019/APO Group/ –For the first time Ghana, Zambia and Uganda participated in Rugby Africa’s (www.RugbyAfrique.com) Under-20 tournament, from 7^th to 12^th May, 2019, and competed for the open spot in Pool B for 2020. The final between Zambia and Uganda was extremely tight, but Zambia narrowly won the last match of the tournament, 14 to 12.

Pool C was a first for Rugby Africa and the participating federations. The three young teams had never competed, or at least for several years, and therefore, were starting from scratch. They gave us the opportunity to watch great play by enthusiastic players who entirely deserved their place in the competition.

This premiere was a success for both the Ugandan and Zambian teams. Uganda, an outstanding host of the competition, gave us three matches attended by great supporters who more than lived up to expectations. Ghana, however, struggled to find its place against these two teams.

This competition is also the first since Rugby Africa’s recent association with Société Générale, official partner of the development of rugby in Africa. This represents a real advance for the image of African rugby and particularly for rugby among young people.

These three days of matches will be remembered as a veritable festival of African rugby where countries from the south, east and west were represented and demonstrated a promising future for the game in the seasons to come.

RESULTS

DAY 1^st – 7^th May 2019

Zambia vs Ghana: 55 – 3

Match Officials:

Main Referee: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

Assistant 1: Stéphane Rakotonirainy (Madagascar)

Assistant 2: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)

Referee Manager: Johnbosco Muamba (Rugby Africa)

Citing Commissioner: James Juma (Kenya)

Legal Officer: Daniel Clements (Namibia)

Match Commissioner: Johnbosco Muamba (Rugby Africa)

DAY 2^nd – 10^th May 2019

Uganda vs Ghana: 52 – 0

Match Officials:

Main Referee: Stéphane Rakotonirainy (Madagascar)

Assistant 1: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

Assistant 2: Sarah Razafimamonjy (Madagascar)

Referee Manager: Johnbosco Muamba (Rugby Africa)

Citing Commissioner: James Juma (Kenya)

Legal Officer: Daniel Clements (Namibia)

Match Commissioner: Godwin Kayangwe (Uganda)

DAY 3^rd – 12^th May 2019

Zambia vs Uganda: 14 – 12

Match Officials:

Main Referee: Talent Gandiwa (Zimbabwe)

Assistant 1: Nicardo Pienaar (Namibia)

Assistant 2: Sarah Razafimamonjy (Madagascar)

Referee Manager: Johnbosco Muamba (Rugby Africa)

Citing Commissioner: James Juma (Kenya)

Legal Officer: Daniel Clements (Namibia)

Match Commissioner: Godwin Kayangwe (Uganda)