UMU’s Ocen and Opio Gear Up for Glory with Uganda’s National Rugby Team at the 2025 HSBC 7s Challenger

The Uganda Sevens Rugby squad is all set and primed for an exciting challenge at the 2025 HSBC Rugby 7s Challenger Series in Cape Town, South Africa. As the countdown begins to the high-stakes tournament, the excitement has also spread across Uganda Martyrs University (UMU), as two of its own students will be making their mark on the international stage.

The Uganda Sevens team is geared up for a fierce competition in Cape Town on 1-2 March and 7-8 March 2025, where they’ll compete against some of the best rugby teams from around the globe. This tournament, which forms part of the World Rugby Challenger Series, is a vital event for teams looking to secure their place in the upper echelons of world rugby. And this year, the Uganda Sevens squad has a distinctive UMU presence.

Among the squad members representing Uganda will be two talented and dedicated UMU students—Ocen Arnold Jones and Opio Thomas Arthur—both of whom play for the UMU Martyrs Rugby Team, the university’s very own rugby club.

• Ocen Arnold Jones is a second-year student pursuing a degree in Economics and Statistics. Known for his speed and agility on the field, Ocen’s addition to the national team speaks to his dedication and hard work both academically and athletically.
• Opio Thomas Arthur, also a second-year student, is studying Information Technology. Opio is a versatile player, showcasing his impressive skills in both offense and defense, and has quickly become a standout player on the UMU Martyrs Rugby Team.

Both of these athletes are not only stars on the university’s rugby team but are now taking their talents to a much larger stage. Their inclusion in the Uganda Sevens squad for this prestigious event is a testament to their determination, discipline, and the high level of rugby training they’ve received at UMU.

The HSBC Rugby 7s Challenger Series is one of the premier rugby tournaments on the global calendar. Held annually, the series features top rugby teams from around the world competing in the fast-paced, action-packed 7s format. For the Uganda Sevens team, this tournament presents an invaluable opportunity to showcase their skills, compete against the best, and earn a spot in the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series—one of the most prestigious rugby circuits globally.

In Cape Town, the squad will battle it out on the 1st-2nd and 7th-8th of March, aiming to advance further on the global rugby map. With Ocen Arnold Jones and Opio Thomas Arthur in the squad, Uganda’s chances are looking bright, as the UMU duo brings energy, passion, and skill to the field.

The inclusion of these two talented students in the national squad highlights the growing presence of UMU in the world of sports. At UMU, the development of both academics and athletics is strongly emphasized, and the university prides itself on offering students opportunities to excel in all areas. The UMU Martyrs Rugby Team plays a significant role in honing the rugby talents of students, and Ocen and Opio’s journey to the HSBC Rugby 7s Challenger Series is proof of the team’s success in fostering world-class athletes.

As the Uganda Sevens squad prepares to blitz their opponents in Cape Town, the entire UMU community stands behind them. We wish Ocen Arnold Jones, Opio Thomas Arthur, and the rest of the Uganda Sevens team a safe journey and the best of luck at the tournament. This is a huge milestone not only for these talented students but also for the development of rugby in Uganda.

We are proud to have UMU Martyrs Rugby represented on the global stage, and we are confident that the performance of these players will inspire many future rugby stars from the university. The journey of Ocen and Opio serves as an example of what can be achieved when passion, discipline, and education come together.

Let’s cheer on our UMU heroes as they take Uganda to the world stage and make history at the 2025 HSBC Rugby 7s Challenger Series!