Emilly Lekuru Becomes First Ugandan Woman to Sign A Pro Rugby Contract – Heads To Hokkaido Barbarians Diana in Japan

Another International signing for the Taiyo Seimei Women’s 7s Series as Emilly Lekuru, has signed a four-month contract to join the Hokkaido Barbarians Diana team, and in the process becomes the first Ugandan woman to sign a pro rugby contract.

Feature Photo Credit – PHOTO/JOHN BATANUDDE  via Monitor

In Uganda, Emilly plays with Black Pearls RFC, and the player nicknamed “Ferrari” will join a side that in recent months also announced that Black Ferns 7s and double Olympic gold medallist Jazmin Felix-Hotham will also be with the Japanese team for the 2025 Series in Japan following the HSBC SVNS Series which wraps up in LA this weekend.

Online publication Monitor provided a great summary of Emilly Lekuru’s recent rugby feats to break the news of her singing for the Japanese club.

Who is Emilly Lekuru?

The prolific try scorer racked up 46 tries in 9 games of 15s rugby in Uganda’s domestic season in 2025 and has featured in high-profile touring rugby teams. She was the Domestic top try scorer with 69 tries in the 15s league in 2024 for her club Black Pearls RFC.

• Emilly was the top try scorer for Shogun Rugby at the Safari Sevens in October 2024.
• Emilly played with the Find Rugby Now team at the HKFC 10s in 2024.
• She scored 5 tries in the domestic Uganda 15s season final game in 2025, to finish with 46 tries for the campaign.
• In the Uganda domestic 7s season, she scored 83 tries in the season.

Find Rugby Now posted online saying, “Some ultra exciting news from the FRN camp tonight as we announce that our very own Emilly Lekuru is the first Ugandan woman to secure a professional contract! Emilly played for us at the Hong Kong 10s last year and quickly distinguished herself with her killer speed that left her opponents in their tracks.

We are thrilled to have been a small step in her incredible journey that gave her the exposure she deserved, and we can’t wait to see what she does in her future! We are very proud teammates today.”

Jonathan Hooper, Director of Rugby at Shogun Rugby, said online, “46 tries in 9 games of 15s speaks for itself.  This pro 7s contract in Japan is so well deserved. If I were a PWR club, I’d be watching her progress very closely.”

Hokkaido Barbarians Diana – Taiyo Seimei Women’s 7s Series 2025

Hokkaido Barbarians Diana were promoted to be one of the 12 core teams in Japan’s highest level domestic 7s series in 2025 and join the likes of Nagato Blue Angels (1st),  Mie PEARLS (2nd), Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Rugby Club (3rd) from the 2024 Series. All three sides have produced several Japan Sakura 7s and 15s players, and this pre-season a number of local and international signings have been confirmed.

For the Hokkaido Barbarians Diana side, the biggest signing to date has been Jazmin Felix-Hotham, and the Kiwi said online, “Excited to share that after the SVNS series, I’ll be joining the Hokkaido Barbarians Diana, to compete in the 2025 Japan Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens series (June- September).

I’m looking forward to the opportunity to sharpen my craft during the NZ 7s offseason in a brand new environment. I’m grateful for my long-standing connection to this club, so I  can’t wait to wear the red & black jersey alongside my new teammates.”

Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 Schedule

The Challenger tournament takes place from 5-6 May before the three main events of the Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 are played from June to August, leading into the final Grand Final Tournament in Sapporo.

The three rounds of regular competition will take place for the 12 core teams based on the tournament’s 2024 standings. Based on the final standings from the three legs,  the teams will then face off in a one-day Grand Final Tournament on August 17, 2025, in Sapporo.

• Challenger Tournament – Fukuoka – May 5 & 6, 2025- Venue: JAPAN BASE, Fukuoka
• Tournament One – Kumagaya – June 21 & 22, 2025 – Venue: Kumagaya Rugby Stadium
• Tournament Two – Kitakyushu July 20 & 21, 2025 – Venue: Mikuni World Stadium
• Tournament Three – Higashi-Osaka – August 2 & 3, 2025 – Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashi-Osaka
• Grand Final Tournament – Sapporo – August 17, 2025 -Venue: Daiwa House Premist Dome

Japanese Rugby News 2o25

• World Rugby And JRFU Respond to Ruling Of Asia Rugby’s Baseless Suspension of the JRFU Chairman
• Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 – Expansion And Exciting Signings
• Japan Sakura Fifteens and Brave Blossoms 2025 Domestic Fixtures Announced.
• Tokyo Sankyu Phoenix Preparing For Taiyo Seimei Women’s Sevens Series 2025 – Savannah Bodman & Misaki Matsumura