Uganda Rugby Union and Kenya Rugby Union have, in a joint statement published on Monday afternoon, agreed to postpone the 2024 Elgon Cup by a week.
The two-legged tournament was initially scheduled for November 2 in Kampala and November 9 in Nairobi.
“Following a consultative meeting held on Saturday 26th October 2024 between the Uganda Rugby Union (URU) and the Kenya Rugby Union (KRU), a joint decision has been reached on a revised schedule for the 2024 Elgon Cup by both parties,” read the statement in part.
Sources knowledgeable about the situation on both slopes of the 4321-metre-high volcanic mountain after which the tournament is named had read the signs and expected the tournament to be postponed, at the very least.
Both unions’ finances, KRU’s more critically, are in dire straits. According to the sources who have preferred anonymity to protect their positions and working relationships, KRU requested the postponement during the above-mentioned consultative meeting. URU’s Rugby Cranes have trained for three weeks without contracts and their allowances are yet to be paid.
The new schedule will see Nairobi host the first leg on November 9 and the second leg will be in Kampala – at Kings Park as earlier announced – the following weekend on November 16. It remains to be seen whether that will be enough time for both teams to be ready.
Women’s Elgon Cup cancelled
The women’s Elgon Cup will not be played, on KRU’s request. KRU cited the upcoming women’s Rugby Africa 7s, in which Uganda will also participate in Accra, Ghana on November 9-10, as the reason for not being able to field a fully competitive team.
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