As the dust of Rugby Africa Cup 2025 finally settles down and the rugby community returns from country unity to club rivalry, Nile Special Uganda Sevens start this weekend and no local competition generates as much excitement, banter and pressure among players and fans like 7s rugby.
After flattering with a consideration to have five circuits, The Uganda Rugby Union and other stakeholders quickly reverted to the recent familiar 7-stop calendar.
This year, repeat hosts Entebbe works grounds, Kyadondo Rugby Club, Pece war memorial stadium, Bugembe stadium and Kings Park Arena will be joined by the stunning Bunyonyi Safaris Resort Stadium in Kabale cut into a hill in the beautiful surroundings of lake Bunyonyi with its stunning views and scenic beauty.
These are my random thoughts about what to expect.
THE FAVOURITES
HEATHENS
The defending champions come into this year at the back of a disappointing league finish where they didn’t make the final and in unfamiliar territory. The retirements of club stalwarts Micheal Wokorach and Lawrence Sebuliba from the 7s code will undoubtedly deprive the team of great leaders and performers off and on the pitch and the onus will be on other experienced players like Norbert Okeny and Aaron Ofywroth to fill those very big boots. What should be great news for Heathens faithful though, is seeing Ugandan 7s head coach and Guru Tolbert Onyango taking over the mantle of head coach from the retiring Athiyo Nyago and that should be good enough to give the club a good launchpad to defend their title.
PIRATES
After a fruitful league championship campaign, Pirates once again prepare for another 7s title charge aiming to recapture the title they last lifted in 2023. Having provided the bulk of the players to the national team in the recently concluded RAC 2025 that included several of their 7s stars, it remains to be seen if that will affect the team in a way. But with arguably the biggest player depth around and a master tactician in Marvin Odongo, it will be all systems go for the sea robbers once the first circuit kicks off.
KOBS
The other one of the big clubs that finished the league championship with a bruised ego. A painful semi final defeat at home suffered by the blue army and the loss or not of their home grounds seemed to have destabilized them, but Kobs has too much quality around for them to get overlooked, a great mix of good youngsters and experienced campaigners under the capable
tutelage of Timothy Mudoola. It’s been a while since they last lifted a trophy, and this would be sweet if they went all the way.
HIPPOS
A club whose ascendency is being threatened by a boardroom issue that doesn’t seem to go away is not a good sight at all. We still don’t know which Hippos will show up at the first circuit but what is certain is that everyone is hoping the wrangles can be solved as quickly as they can. From a maiden title in 2022 to reaching the league championship final this year, Hippos has firmly taken their seat on Uganda rugby’s high table, and they are not about to go away.
THE DARK HORSES.
With Stable squads, well rested and quality players, BUFFALOES, BARBARIANS and the RHINOS will have a lot to say about where the title ends up. All three have benefited in having their players taste national team call ups recently and this experience will definitely come in handy at crucial times along the way. Don’t be surprised if one of this lot ends up at the summit of the mountain come the end of the series.
For all the above contenders however, as Hippos showed us in 2022, not winning a circuit is not very important provided you perform very consistently and well across all the other circuits
Sadly, or maybe not, the other teams will just compete.
Wishing all the players an injury-free campaign and the fans safe travels and good banter.
May the first kick go the full ten meters.
Brian Muhumuza
UgRugbyFanzone