At 23, Moise Fils Habumugisha is the youngest coach in the national rugby league and his team, Remera Buffaloes has some of the oldest players in the league and more in his age group.

Despite his age, Habumugisha has had a decent career as a scrumhalf for both country and club. However, his career was cut short by a freak injury to his left arm in 2014, which forced him into early retirement.

His appointment as Remera coach was welcome news to the rugby fraternity as he brings his work ethic and game reading that made him a lethal player during his short playing career. 

His first season started off with two wins and he hopes to tidy up the house for the record 9-time league champions, a feat that may cover up some dirty patches at the club like indiscipline and over the top physical rugby.

Background

Habumugisha was born on February 1, 1993 to Jeanette Mukasekuru and Cleophas Girinkovu in Gikondo sector, Kicukiro District in the City of Kigali. He is the fifth child in a family of eight. 

Like many of his rugby counterparts, he holds an A-level certificate in Electricity and Networking from ETM Mukingi and is employed in that profession.

From karate to rugby

Before joining rugby, Habumugisha was a junior karate player, a sport he credits for giving him the discipline to handle rugby. Habumugisha switched from karate to rugby while in his primary 6, in 2007.

He was influenced into the game by his big sister Jacqueline Uwera, who was a player and captain of the women national team—however, it was Phillip Gakirage, the then Silverbacks’ coach, who introduced him to competitive rugby. 

According to Habumigisha, Gakirage found him with a rugby ball at a neighborhood pitch in Mburabuturo and took him to Cercle Sportif to join other youngsters for a training session, and like they say, the rest is history.

After impressing in training he was selected alongside 11 others to represent the U-14 Silverbacks in a tournament of developing nations facilitated by UK-based rugby charity, Friends of Rwanda Rugby (FoRR).

The event in London saw Habumugisha exchange one contact sport for another and built a life-long passion.

Playing career

After the trip to London, Habumugisha kept in the game and in 2009 he joined the Remera Buffaloes U-14 side where he matured into a tenacious and highly mobile athlete playing scrum-half, centre and winger. 

"I had to be fast, I lacked in size and stature. So I had to be smart,” he says in an exclusive interview with Saturday Sport. 

In 2011 he joined Buffaloes archrivals, Kigali Sharks which he captained and led to second spot that season.

His impressive performances and leadership abilities for Kigali Sharks earned him a call-up to the senior national team, the Silverbacks, the first of many appearances in the Kowloon Rugby Fest in Hong Kong where he was the youngest player at 17 years, and the lightest, weighing 65kgs.

He was awarded the Young Player of the Tournament award. He returned to Buffaloes where he lifted the league trophies in 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. 

He also earned more caps with the Silverbacks in the same period playing other editions of the Kowloon Rugby Fest, and other tournaments including the Safaricom 7s, Nakuru 10s and the Africa Rugby Division 2 South.

Events took a turn when he fractured his left arm tibia after an awkward landing during a training session at Ape Rugunga ground a week before the Silverbacks hosted Burundi and DRC in the Africa Rugby Division 2 cup.

"I went to the doctor hoping for the best, I couldn’t believe it. I was the starting no.9 and it was one week to the tournament,” he recalls.

He was operated on and given six months to recover and somehow he came to terms with the situation, but hoped for the best.

Despite being optimistic of making a comeback to action, the thought of aggravating the injury lingered on the back of his mind. 

In July last year, Habumugisha played his "farewell tournament” for the Silverbacks in the 2016 Rio Olympics rugby 7s pre-qualifiers tournament hosted by Rwanda, scoring three tries, two against DRC and one against Burundi.

Keeping in the game 

When Frenchman Benjamin Veyrac, the Remera Buffaloes senior team coach decided to concentrate on the U-14 side last year, the club committee had to find a replacement and Habumugisha’s name came up. 

"As a player, he was talented and has shown leadership skills. He has helped raise players even some in his own generation. Most players when they get injured, they leave the game but when you have such a talent you keep him around, "says Remera Buffaloes president and player Benjamin Akami Makombe. 

Makombe adds that, since Habumugisha took over, at the start of this season, training sessions are now better attended.

Habumugisha’s first stint as coach was in 2012 with the U-19 national team that played at the Safaricom 7s and performed well. 

That same year, he started coaching at G.S St. Famille and last year in August, Habumugisha led the school to Rwanda’s first ever trophy in the FEASSA games rugby sevens—the regional games were held in Rwanda. 

Although he only carries a Level 1 rugby coaching certificate, Habumugisha seems to have the backing and encouragement of the senior players. 

And regarding his future ambitions, "I hope to acquire more training and coaching experience and, one day, to coach the Silverbacks.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw