Uganda Rugby Cranes Plummet in World Rankings After Double Defeat

The past week has been a nightmare for Ugandan rugby.

After a disappointing opening loss to archrivals Kenya, the Rugby Cranes suffered another blow—this time falling to newly promoted Morocco on Day 2 of the Rugby Africa Cup. The back-to-back defeats have left Uganda staring down the barrel of relegation from the continent’s elite rugby division.

As a direct consequence, Uganda has tumbled down the World Rugby rankings, sliding from 41st to 48th. The drop follows World Rugby’s points exchange system, which penalizes higher-ranked teams for losing to lower-ranked opponents. By defeating Uganda, Morocco not only bagged the win but also climbed from 39th to 37th in the global standings.

Uganda’s current ranking is a far cry from its highest-ever position—31st—achieved in 2008, after winning the Rugby Africa Cup in Madagascar the previous year.

Now, all eyes are on the relegation playoff against Ivory Coast, currently ranked 64th in the world. Another loss would not only see Uganda relinquish more valuable points but could also push the Cranes further down the global ladder.

With their elite status on the line, the Rugby Cranes must regroup fast—or risk sinking deeper into the shadows of African rugby.