Rugby Updates: Ghana Rugby Eagles Prepare For International Battles

The Ghana Rugby national men’s fifteens and women’s sevens teams, the Ghana Eagles, gathered at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016 to play trial matches in preparation of upcoming international clashes.

The ladies sevens team led by Kukua Aggrey and Rafatu Inusah, played two matches during the men’s 15s match break and another one after the men.

According to Simba Mangena, one of the men’s fifteens Ghana Eagles coaches, there has been a general improvement in communication in all departments with good coordination in the back three.

Mangena said that Cosmos flanker Raymond Ata had a sterling performance that exhibited good work rate off the ball. In addition there has been good improvement in tactical play at the lineout.

Areas, according to Mangena, that needs attention are urgency at the breakdown, decision making in attack, final passes after breaking the defence line and running lines.

Amuzuloh Salim, another Ghana Eagles coach, said that the trial match went well despite an early shock try from the B team. According to him the coaches are in general satisfied that they have two strong sides that provide the technical bench with options should it be required.

“We appreciate the opportunity and will be very happy if more such trial matches can be scheduled so that the players get to know each other very well,” he said.

The captain of the A team, Michael Ako Wilson, said that he was happy with the levels of discipline and communication and the fact that no injuries were recorded.

“As the playing body we see a great future for Ghana Rugby and all players must be ready to go that extra mile with the administration to achieve the best for the nation in the upcoming international matches against Niger, Togo and Nigeria,” he said.

The period from now to December will be a very busy time for the Ghana Rugby family with U20 and women’s sevens trials coming up, followed by another men’s fifteens trial match, an international friendly against Niger on the 2nd of October and the possibility of further international matches as part of the just established WARS (West Africa Rugby Series) tournament organisation.

The Ghana Rugby Club Championship (GRCC) is also scheduled to kick off with ten Club teams from the Greater Accra Rugby Association (GARA) and CentWest that will battle for top honours in this year’s league.

The GRCC was won by Conquerors SC earlier this year when they dethroned previous champions Cosmos Buffalos RFC.

Two coaches of the Ghana Rugby national men’s team, the Ghana Eagles, discusses the quality of play by the national A and B teams at the trial match that was held at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016. From left to right: Simba Mangena and Amuzuloh Salim.

Women’s Rugby is high on the priority of Ghana Rugby’s President, Mr Herbert Mensah. The women’s sevens teams played in a trial match at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016.

According to the captain of the team, Rafatu Inusah, it is quite frustrating that some of the Rugby neighbours could not raise a women’s team to give the Ghana Women Eagles match practice on an international level.

Razak Mpia, one of the Ghana Rugby Eagles team players, break away in the men’s fifteens trial match between an A and B team at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016.

Nasiru Aminu, a lock of the Ghana Rugby Eagles team, wins the ball in the lineout in a national team trial match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016.

Coach Simba Mangena in discussions with one of the Ghana Rugby Eagles, Francis Donkor, during a break in the trial match played at the Accra Sports Stadium on Saturday 24 September 2016.