Namboole stadium to host rugby cranes

Mar 31, 2010

LOCAL rugby governing body URU plans to shift international games to Mandela National Stadium Namboole and Nakivubo starting next year. Only football has been played on the Namboole field since the stadium was officially opened in 1998.

By Johnson Were

LOCAL rugby governing body URU plans to shift international games to Mandela National Stadium Namboole and Nakivubo starting next year. Only football has been played on the Namboole field since the stadium was officially opened in 1998.

“Rugby fans have increased so much and neither Kampala nor Kyadondo grounds can accommodate the population that turns up for Rugby Cranes international games,” URU chairman William Blick disclosed.

Blick (inset) explained that union officials had already met the sports state minister who gave a go-ahead to the proposal. He said they are in negotiations with the Namboole management to work on the few modifications required to suit international standards.

He added that once that is done and a memorandum of understanding is signed, URU will send a technical team to do the costing and marking of the two pitches.

“It’s a national stadium and the government would meet the costs though we would offer the technical support,” Blick said when asked about the funds.

He cited South Africa where rugby grounds will be used in the soccer FIFA World Cup in June and England where soccer clubs like Wigan, Bolton Wanderers and Leicester share grounds with rugby clubs.

Blick added that the union is also considering taking the some international games to Mbale and Jinja while finalising with Namboole and Nakivubo.

“We are set and ready to take on any pitch we are given green light about but as you know the process of acquiring government funds may take us to next year,” he explained

Meanwhile, Kyambogo walloped KIU 29-0 while Impis lost 15-12 to Nkumba University at Makerere in the universities league.

UCU continued their winning streak whipping Busoga 17-0 while Nkumba defeated MUBS 12-5.

Action continues tomorrow with Busoga hosting Makerere Impis, as Nkozi takes on Kyambogo. Nkumba will play MUBS while KIU face UCU at Mukono.

Full results
UCU 17 Busoga 0
MUBS 5 Nkozi 12
Impis 12 Nkumba 15
Kyambogo 29 KIU 0

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