World Rugby takes a look at some of the biggest rivalries featuring women’s teams across both sevens and 15s.
Last year was a bumper one for the female players of Kenya and Uganda as the Elgon Cup returned following a four-year hiatus.
The home and away tests, played in Kisumu and Kampala, were both won by Kenya’s Lionesses and served as vital preparation for the 2019 Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.
At the continental competition in Brakpan, South Africa, which doubled as a qualifying tournament for RWC 2021, the two teams met for a third time in two months and it was Kenya who again took the spoils.
Despite the Lionesses’ recent success, it was the Lady Cranes of Uganda who won the neighbours’ first three meetings, ensuring they won the inaugural Elgon Cup in 2006 and retained it two years later.
Since 2009, however, when a 38-5 victory helped Kenya secure a 43-17 aggregate victory, the trophy has left the Lionesses’ possession only once, in 2013, when Uganda won 30-26 over the two matches. In total, Kenya have won 13 tests to Uganda’s eight, with two draws.
Although the countries share a land border they have only faced each other in a World Rugby sevens event once, with that match being played on a different continent.
In April 2019, Kenya beat their neighbours 24-0 in Pool B of the women’s World Rugby Sevens Series qualifier before being beaten by Brazil in the semi-finals.
