Uganda Women welcome back Samiya Ayikoru for 7s Challenger Cape Town

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Three-time winner of the USPA sports scribes’ female Rugby Player of The Year award Samiya Ayikoru is back on the Uganda women’s 7s playing squad.

Samiya Ayikoru with her USPA Women’s Rugby Player of the Year 2019 award.

Ayikoru, who had paused her rugby-playing career for personal reasons for about two years since 2021 and embarked on coaching in Entebbe, made a graduated return to play last season.

“I’ve been liking the progress she has made. It’s only the fitness bit that has been challenging her but she’s been a very good addition to us and we believe her getting back into the system has put us at the forefront of being in the Challenger Series. It’s one of the tournaments she has not played before but she would love to give it her best. It has been the hard work that has put her back on the team,” head coach Charles Onen said about Ayikoru’s return.

Ayikoru will make her first international 7s appearance since the turn of the decade during the opening round of the 2025 World Rugby HSBC 7s Challenger Series from March 1-2 in Cape Town. This will also be her first appearance on the 7s Challenger.

Three other players; Mastula Nambozo, Tina Akello and Janat Nandudu — she was a late addition for Dubai but did not play — will make their 7s Challenger debuts in Cape Town.

Uganda Women’s Travelling Squad for 7s Challenger Rounds 1 & 2 Cape Town:

Players: 1 Peace Lekuru (captain), 2 Mary Gloria Ayot, 3 Lydia Namabiro, 4 Gertrude Kateesa, 5 Grace Nabagala, 6 Agnes Nakuya, 7 Grace Auma, 8 Tina Akello Molly, 9 Maimuna Nassozi, 10 Janat Nandudu, 11 Rachael Mufuwa, 12 Samiya Ayikoru*, 13 Mastula Nambozo*.
Technical Bench: Winnie Atyang Alexanda (team manager), Charles Onen (head coach), Kigongo Ssebalamu (S&C coach), Nelson Mayeku (physiotherapist), Bronson Weir (high-performance consultant).

The two rounds of the 7s Challenger in Cape Town will be played at the Athlone Stadium. For the first round from March 1-2, Uganda is in Pool C with Belgium and Colombia.