The Rise and Rise of She Wolves

The She Wolves, a women’s rugby team based in Mbale, Uganda, have quickly become a force in the rugby community. Established in 2019, the team is the sister team to Elgon Wolves, and it operates from the Eastern region of Uganda.

Rugby was first introduced to Mbale by white settlers as tag rugby, with early coaching support from Coach Fortunate, who began training children.

In 2020, the region saw the formation of an academy aimed at developing young rugby talent, led by Madam Penina and Coach Anguma Stephen.

Coach Anguma, affiliated with the Uganda Rugby Union (URU), played a crucial role in spotting and nurturing talent.

Noticing potential in the girls, many of whom had previously played netball in Bugema barracks, he encouraged them to shift to rugby, hoping they would one day join the national team.

With the establishment of the academy, the Rugby Development Officer (RDO) of Mbale organized a tournament in 2022 at Mageni with URU’s support. The academy performed exceptionally well, leading to their decision to join the core teams.

By 2023, the She Wolves participated in several tournaments, including the Entebbe U20, Lady Swans 7s, and U20 Rotary Girls tournament held in May, emerging victorious in each.

Their hard work and determination earned them qualification to the core teams. They competed against teams like the Mbale Eagles, Kigezi Queens, and Kitgum Queens. In the final against Kitgum Queens, the She Wolves clinched victory with a score of 14-5, winning the Core Qualifiers of 2023.

In 2024, the She Wolves joined the National Rugby 7s series. Their debut at the Entebbe 7s was challenging, as they faced legendary teams like the Thunderbirds, Avengers, and Black Pearls.

Despite initial struggles, they showed resilience and continued to improve with each circuit. At the Kyabazinga 7s, they defeated the Thunderbirds in the quarterfinals, gaining confidence and proving they could compete at the highest level.

The She Wolves continued their rise by pulling off an upset against the Avengers, winning 22-17 in the quarterfinals of the last circuit of the National Rugby 7s series at Kings Park, Bweyogerere.

This victory earned them a spot in the final against the Black Pearls. The match was closely contested, with both teams exchanging tries, and the She Wolves finished as runners-up at the Rujumba 7s.

Throughout the 7s series, the team earned two MVP awards: Gladys Wilembe was named MVP at the Mbarara 7s, and Anirwoth Sunday was awarded MVP at the Rujumba 7s.

Coach Anguma expressed his pride in the team’s performance, stating, “It wasn’t a surprise for the girls to put up such a good performance at Rujumba because I have been with these girls and they have grown in my hands. Of course, I was happy, though they could have won the trophy as well.”

Coach Onen Charles of the Buffaloes and Lady Cranes also praised the team, noting, “She Wolves is a very good team that put up a strong showing in the National 7s. They have been growing each and every day, and it’s a team to watch.”

Following their impressive run in the National 7s, three She Wolves players—Gladys Wilembe, Sunday Anirwoth, and Habiba Namulimbwa—were called up to the national team to participate in the Safari 7s.

The trio displayed impressive skills; Anirwoth scored the only try for the Lady Cranes Select against Kenya Cubs, with Wilembe converting. Habiba also made a significant impact, advancing against the Lady Cranes defense, which led to another try by Wilembe.

Reflecting on the experience, Wilembe said, “It was a great outing for me and my teammates. Playing alongside players from other clubs was exciting, and having three of us in the squad was a significant milestone for our team.”

Their debut performance exceeded expectations and has boosted their confidence. The She Wolves’ success has inspired their teammates, who now aspire to represent their country one day.

Coach Anguma remains optimistic but realistic, acknowledging that the Uganda Cup might be challenging for the team due to their players’ academic commitments, as 80% of them are students, with some currently taking their UCE exams. Despite this, he believes their fighting spirit will be evident to their opponents.