Rugby Africa Cup returns, to be held in Uganda
Eight nations have been confirmed for the Rugby Africa Cup when the competition makes a return to the continent.
Uganda (who will also participate) will host the tournament that is set run from July 18 to July 29, 2024 at the newly refurbished Nelson Mandela National Stadium in Namboole.
The tournament will include eight teams: defending champions Namibia, past champions Kenya Simbas (2011 and 2013), hosts Uganda, Algeria, Ivory Coast, Senegal, Zimbabwe, and Burkina Faso.
Rugby Africa Cup returns
Last held in 2022 at the Stade Delort in Marseille and the Stade Maurice David in Aix-en-Provence, France, it featured an 8-team knockout format, the winner automatically qualifying for the 2023 Rugby World Cup. 
Virtually attending the launch on Wednesday, May 22, at Kings Park, Rugby Africa president Herbert Mensah reiterated his confidence of a successful tourney being held in the East African nation.
“We know it’s going to be a festival of rugby. We know it’s going to exhibit the wonders of Uganda. But it’s also something that they bid for two years so they’ve got it for 2024 and for 2025. And it means that we are now going to have access to a refurbished stadium. I believe the Mandela National Stadium will be ready. It’s going to give a chance for you in Uganda to welcome the fans from across the whole of Africa to the Pearl. Let’s see what your hospitality is really like, whether the weather is upstanding, and whether we’d all want to come back to Uganda for holidays thereafter.”
Namibia won the 2022 edition, defeating Kenya Simbas 36-0 in the final and qualifying as Africa's number one. Kenya placed second would head to the final world cup qualification tournament, the Repechage. Algeria secured third place by beating Zimbabwe 20-12. 
For the first time, all eight African teams will compete in two groups on a promotion-relegation system, playing in a single country.
Government cooperation key for success
The federation’s president called on increased cooperation between governments and unions, stressing why government support will be crucial in growing the game across Africa.
“Listen, you receive two and a quarter million, but you need five to seven million to provide rugby for all. There are some saying you are not providing rugby for every nation, but that is not true. Our plan clearly is to do that and we can only do it with the Ugandas of this world.
“Uganda is the first country to embrace the philosophy, that marriage with government, which means that the hosting rights are being paid for by Uganda for the first time. This has enabled us to spend more money on air tickets to bring more countries in.” Mensah said.
