Irene Eyaru

Ugandan shooter who captained the She Cranes to their historic best-ever World Cup finish in 2023, after being promoted at short notice when Peace Proscovia withdrew.

Irene Eyaru was born on 23 October 1996 in Arua, losing her father when she was in her first year of primary school. A senior woman at her school encouraged her to take up netball as a pathway to study scholarships, advice that proved transformative — netball funded Eyaru's education from secondary school through university and now supports her mother and siblings. Eyaru made her international debut for Uganda in 2015 and has played for KCCA Netball Club since 2014, going on to captain the club as well. She captained Uganda to gold at the 2018 World University Netball Games in Kampala, defeating South Africa in a thrilling final, and represented the She Cranes at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, where Uganda finished fifth after beating South Africa in the play-off. When long-time captain Peace Proscovia withdrew from the 2023 World Cup squad for personal reasons, Eyaru was promoted from deputy to captain just weeks before the tournament in Cape Town. She led a young, largely inexperienced She Cranes squad to their best-ever World Cup finish, fifth place, sealed by a dramatic 49-47 win over hosts South Africa, and has continued to captain the side since, including at the 2024 Fast5 Netball World Series.

Composed goal attack capable of shooting and feeding, known for calm, encouraging leadership of a young squad

A symbol of resilience for Ugandan netball, whose sudden elevation to captain produced one of the sport's feel-good stories of the 2023 World Cup

• Uganda's best-ever World Cup finish, 5th place (2023, as captain)
• 2018 World University Netball Games Gold (captain)
• Commonwealth Games 5th place 2022
• She Cranes captain since 2023