Uganda and Zimbabwe have become the latest nations to qualify for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 after reaching the Rugby Africa Sevens Championship final in Kampala.
The Rugby Cranes Sevens were crowned African champions for the second year in a row, albeit only after a last-gasp try from Adrian Kasito saw them come from behind to triumph 10-7 to the delight of the home fans at Legends Sports Ground.
With Uganda celebrating its 55th year of independence on Monday, the title defence also came with another prize as they will again take their place at the opening two rounds of the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series 2018 in Dubai and Cape Town in December alongside the 15 core teams.
It will be the first Rugby World Cup Sevens appearance for Uganda and a fifth for Zimbabwe, who appeared at the 1997, 2001, 2009 and 2013 tournaments.
Uganda and Zimbabwe take the number of African men’s teams at RWC Sevens 2018 in San Francisco to four with South Africa and Kenya having qualified directly as quarter-finalists from the 2013 edition in Moscow. In total, 17 teams have now booked their place in San Francisco with seven places left up for grabs.
(Source: World Rugby)