The Uganda Rugby Cranes 7s will not participate in the 2026 Rugby Africa Sevens tournament in Mauritius after travel restrictions linked to the ongoing Ebola outbreak ruled the team out of the competition.
In a statement released on Wednesday, June 10, Uganda Rugby confirmed that Mauritius has temporarily barred entry for foreign nationals who have travelled from, transited through, or been present in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, or South Sudan within the previous 21 days.
The restriction comes as Mauritius implements precautionary measures aimed at preventing the spread of Ebola following reported cases in the region. The Mauritius 7s (officially the Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens) takes place on June 20–21, 2026, at SPARC in Cascavelle, Mauritius. The tournament features 12 elite teams competing in three pools.
Uganda Rugby President Godwin Arinaitwe Kayangwe said the decision was beyond the union’s control and was primarily guided by player and public safety concerns.
“The Rugby Cranes 7s will not participate in the 2026 Rugby Africa Mauritius Sevens. This decision follows the recent Ebola outbreak and the temporary prohibition of entry into Mauritius,” read part of the statement.
The absence of Uganda is a significant blow to the Rugby Cranes 7s, who were expected to challenge for continental honours and strengthen their pathway towards qualification for future HSBC Sevens competitions.
However, Uganda Rugby revealed that discussions are already underway with Rugby Africa and the tournament’s organizing committee to explore alternative avenues for HSBC Division 3 qualification.
“We remain committed to the safety of our players, staff and supporters and will provide updates as discussions progress,” the statement added.
The development leaves Uganda’s sevens programme facing uncertainty in the short term, but the union remains hopeful of securing another qualification route to keep the Rugby Cranes’ international ambitions alive.
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