Wikipedia

Philip Wokorach

Philip Wokorach (born 31 December 1993) is a Ugandan rugby union player who plays as a utility back for AS Bédarrides as well as playing sevens for Racing 92. He also runs the PW15 Foundation.

Philip Wokorach
Full namePhilip Wokorach
Date of birth (1993-12-31) 31 December 1993 (age 30)
Place of birthKampala, Uganda
Height187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight86 kg (190 lb; 13 st 8 lb)
SchoolHana Mixed International School
UniversityUganda Christian University
Notable relative(s)Serafino Jabolo (father)
Micheal Wokorach (cousin)
Rugby union career
Position(s) Flyhalf, Winger, Fullback
Current team AS Bédarrides
Youth career
2002-20?? Kyadondo Heathens
20??-2011 Stallions Rugby Club
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2011-2012 Toyota Buffaloes - (-)
2012-2016 Kyadondo Heathens - (-)
2015 → Esher RFC 2 (0)
2016-2019 Kabras Sugar RFC - (-)
2019-2020 Bourges XV 10 (10)
2020- AS Bédarrides 61 (496)
2021 Monaco 7s - ()
2022 Wonder 7s 14 (173)
2023 Racing 92 7s 3 (20)
Correct as of 28 December 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016- Uganda 19 (261)
Correct as of 28 December 2023
National sevens team
Years Team Comps
2014- Uganda 7s 14
Correct as of 28 December 2023

Club career

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Youth career

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He began playing rugby at primary school playing tag rugby before joining Kyadondo Heathens in 2002. Initially he was split between following in his fathers footsteps and becoming a footballer, his father playing a midfielder for the Uganda Cranes, and playing rugby but in 2006 Kyadondo Heathens had trip to England where Wokorach got to visit Twickenham, this trip helped inspire him to stick with rugby. He later joined Stallions Rugby Club.[1]

He led his school side, Hana Mixed International School, to the Uganda School League title in 2011 as well as coming runners up in the Blackrock Rugby Festival. He led the sevens side to victory at the Safari Sevens tournament. Wokorach was awarded Most Valuable Player in all three tournaments.[1]

Toyota Buffaloes

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In his first season of senior rugby Wokorach won the Uganda Rugby Union Young Player of the Year.[2]

Kyadondo Heathens

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He joined Kyadondo Heathens in the 2012–13 season. In March 2013, playing against Stanbic Black Pirates in the. Nile Special Premier League Semi-finals, he broke his right leg, originally thought to be a career ending injury he managed to return to full fitness in 8 months. Kyadondo Heathens won the double that year. He made his return in January 2014 coming off the bench as the Heathens beat Lira Bulls 114–05, Wokorach being named Man of the Match.[1]

He scored two tries in the 2016 Uganda Cup final beating the Stanbic Black Pirates 20–17, winning their 4th consecutive title.[3]

Esher RFC

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In January 2015, he went to England to play for Esher RFC however in February he broke his left leg. Thought to be another career ending injury, he returned to Uganda.[1]

Kabras Sugar RFC

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He managed to return from the second broken leg within 8 months going on to play rugby in Kenya. He helped the Kakamega based side Kabras Sugar RFC to their first Kenya Cup title. Then coming runners up the following two seasons losing both times to Kenya Commercial Bank RFC, with Wokorach being the top points scorer in the 2018–19 season.[4] Before leaving to move to France he was described as having "dominated the Kenyan (rugby) scene".[5]

Boruges XV

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He moved to France in 2019 to play in the Fédérale 3 (5th Division) signing a 9-month contract.[6] He made his debut after only 3 training sessions, playing against Rugby Club Uzerchoison the 13th October 2019.[7] He helped the French side earn promotion to the Fédérale 2 (4th Division), before leaving the club to join AS Bédarrides.

AS Bédarrides

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He joined French Fédérale 1 (3rd Division) AS Bédarrides in 2020,[8][9] making only 5 appearances in his first season, before becoming a regular in the squad, featuring 24 and 23 times in the 2021–22 and 2022–23 seasons respectively.[10] While at AS Bédarrides, he has featured for Monaco 7s and Racing 92 7s in the SuperSevens tournament coming runners up while playing for Monaco losing 14–40 against the French Barbarians.[11][12] As well as in 2022 featuring for Wonder 7s as well.

International career

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Uganda Sevens

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He made his debut in 2014 playing in the Commonwealth Games, being knocked out 32–0 against Canada in the Bowl competition.[13] Wokorach has helped Uganda to 3 Africa Sevens titles, in 2016, 2017 and 2022.[14] He featured in the 2018 and 2022 Rugby Sevens World Cup.

Uganda

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He made his debut for Uganda in 2016, starting at fullback against rivals Kenya in the Elgon Cup losing 48–10 in Nairobi.[15] He scored 4 tries in a 67–12 win over Tunisia in qualification for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.[16]

Activist work

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He founded the PW15 Foundation in 2019, which is aimed at empowering talented young people to achieve their dreams running touch rugby tournaments to help get people into the sport.[17][18][19] He has also called against the Uganda Rugby Union to invest more in schools,[20] and worked with Rhino rugby to provide opportunities and equipment to disadvantaged youth.[21]

He campaigned against child sex abuse, he has rallied the general public and his fellow rugby players to join him in this noble cause.[22]

Honors

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Hana Mixed International School

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Heathens RFC

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Kabras Sugar RFC

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Bourges XV

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Monaco Sevens

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  • 2021 Super Sevens 2 (runners-up)
  • 2021 Super Sevens 3 (champions)
  • 2021 Super Sevens Final (runners-up)

Racing 92 Sevens

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  • 2023 Super Sevens 2 (third place)

Uganda Sevens

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Uganda

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Personal

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d "Philip Wokorach: The exciting Ugandan kid taking Kenyan rugby by storm". Nation. 2020-07-04. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  2. ^ Kyeyune, Darren Allan (2012-03-25). "Kimono misses out, Olweny scoops top URU award". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  3. ^ Kyazze, Clive (2016-10-22). "Heathens defeat Pirates to lift 11th Uganda Cup title". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  4. ^ "Philip Wokorach tops Kenya Cup Scorers Chart". Daily Sport.
  5. ^ Bashir, Omar (2023-02-13). "Know Your Stars: Phillip Wokorach is a Ugandan professional rugby player". NBS Sport. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  6. ^ Kaweru, Franklin (2019-10-03). "Philip Wokorach: Rugby Cranes back takes his talent to France". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  7. ^ "Rugby - De Twickenham à Depège, le nouveau joueur du Bourges XV Philip Wokorach raconte son parcours". leberry.fr. 2019-10-12. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  8. ^ "Philip Wokorach Joins French Side A.S.B.C". ChimpReports. 2020-05-15. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  9. ^ "PHILIP WOKORACH IS ANOTHER STEP UPWARDS". sportznow.ug. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  10. ^ "Philip WOKORACH - Player statistics - It's rugby". www.itsrugby.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  11. ^ Akorebirungi, Ernest (2023-10-18). "Philip Wokorach joins Racing 92 for France's elite clubs Super 7s finale". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-28.
  12. ^ "MonacoRugby7s". MonacoRugby7s. 27 August 2021.
  13. ^ Kazibwe, Edgar (2014-07-26). "Glasgow 2014: Uganda Rugby Cranes Sevens face Australia, England and Sri Lanka on Saturday". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  14. ^ TheBench_KE (2017-03-16). "Philip Wokorach in Ten". Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  15. ^ Emanzi, Ndyamuhaki (2016-05-31). "Wokorach ready for Rugby Cranes debut". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  16. ^ "Wokorach Helps Rugby Cranes stop Tunisia". Ugandan Radio Network.
  17. ^ "Pictorial: Wokorach tag rugby tournament usher in 2023". Nnalubaale Sports. 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  18. ^ "Ugandan rugby star Philip Wokorach shining in France". myafricanmagazine.com. 2022-11-26. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  19. ^ "La fondation PW15 se mobilise pour les enfants ougandais". Wonder Sevens - Club de rugby à 7 (in French). 2023-01-09. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  20. ^ "MSN". msn.com. Retrieved 2023-12-29.[failed verification]
  21. ^ "https://asbcvaucluserugby.ffr.fr/actualites/partenaires/philip-wokorach-visite-lacademie-de-rugby-du-quartier-acholi-et-fait-don-de-ballons". asbcvaucluserugby.ffr.fr (in French). Retrieved 2023-12-29. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
  22. ^ Akorebirungi, Ernest (2020-12-07). "Wokorach joins campaign against Child Sexual Abuse". Kawowo Sports. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  23. ^ "Philip Wokorach bids farewell with emotional message to Ugandan fans". The Local Uganda. 2017-01-10. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
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