Rugby Africa, the Africa Region of World Rugby, has launched the 2018 Rugby Africa Bronze Cup Championship to be hosted in Ghana.

The tournament, which is scheduled to take place at the Nduom Sports Stadium in Elmina from Wednesday, May 9 to Saturday, May 12, would see Ghana, Lesotho, Mauritius and Rwanda battling for the honours.

Mrs. Coralie van den Berg, Managing Director of Rugby Africa, said in a statement issued in Cape Town, South Africa that, “We at Rugby Africa are delighted that Ghana is hosting the 2018 Rugby Africa Bronze Cup. It kick starts the 2018 season of senior fifteen a side rugby.”

Van den Berg added, “stakes are high, the Bronze Cup is after all the gateway to qualify for the Rugby World Cup. It is the first time that Ghana and Lesotho compete at this level and I can't wait to see their performance on the field.”

“Congratulations to Ghana Rugby for taking on the double challenge of competing in and hosting the Bronze Cup for the first time.”

Mr. Herbert Mensah, President and Board Chairman of Ghana Rugby, said that, it was the second time that the honour of hosting an international Rugby Africa tournament in Ghana was bestowed on Ghana as country.

“Ghana Rugby has achieved an enormous lot in a very short space of time and it is our privilege to fly the flag of Ghana high. This event is about much more than just the sports Rugby. It is a showcase to the world that Ghana can produce world-class tournaments in the country and that it does not need to stand back in any way,” Mr Mensah said.

Mensah noted that, Rugby, the second biggest team sport in the world, is about building character in the youth of Ghana by instilling the values of integrity, passion, teamwork, discipline and respect.

Mensah also praised the sponsors of Ghana Rugby for making this event possible.

“Without the support of companies such as The Golden Tulip Accra, the Panafrican Equipment Group, KOMATSU, Interplast, the Gino brands, Groupe Nduom and many others this event could not have hosted in Ghana,” Mensah said.

Ghana and Rwanda will open the tournament at 1330hrs on Wednesday before Lesotho and Mauritius lock horns at 1500hrs the same day.

The winners of the two matches will play in the final on Saturday at 1500hrs whilst the losers play for a 3rd place finish at 1330hrs.

The winner of the 2018 Bronze Cup will automatically be promoted to the 2019 Rugby Africa Silver Cup.

The Bronze Cup also coincides with a Rugby Africa Super Week which will host a team of World Rugby Trainers who will be in Accra to present courses on Mass Participation, L1 Match Officiating and L2 Coaching.

The delegation would be led by Mr Steph Nel, World Rugby Services Manager - Africa.

Mr Nel said, “I am very excited to be in Ghana for the week, attending the Bronze Cup and reviewing this dynamic young union. If the on-field performance matches the off-field efforts we are in for a very special tournament.”