Heathens start league journey against Impis
Dennis Mugambe of Heathens pumps up in celebration after his team defeated Kobs to clinch last season’s league title at Legends Rugby Club, Lugogo in February. Photo by Ismail Kezaala
What you need to know:
Rugby. URU has expanded the league from eight teams to 10. This implies that Impis who were relegated last season got a stay of execution while Rams and Gulu Elephants were promoted from the lower tier.
KAMPALA. A new rugby season kicks off today across five venues with teams expecting to right their wrongs and attain success.
This is the third season since the league was altered from its previous January to December schedule to a November-October format.
However, the order of the tournaments remained intact and as is the routine, the teams’ first bite of the cherry is the Nile Special Rugby Premier League. Champions Hima Cement Heathens remain the team to beat following their league and cup success despite changing coaches from a ‘retired’ Brian Tabaruka to legend Robert Seguya. Eleven-time champions Kobs became Betway Kobs on Thursday whereas Black Pirates’ mercurial fly-half Ivan Magomu hopes to build on a defiant Uganda Cup semifinal exit against Heathens.
Ezee Money Rhino, Toyota Buffaloes and Sadolin Mongers will be expected to ask the tough questions of the big two. For Buffaloes, life after Seguya will be a big examination. In Heathens’ game against Makerere Impis at Kyadondo today, is where the biggest story of the off-season lies. Uganda Rugby Union (URU) has expanded the league from eight teams to 10.
This implies that Impis who were relegated last season got a stay of execution while Rams and Gulu Elephants were promoted from the lower tier.
Games have bludgeoned from 14 to 18. Of course questions will arise when those three ship in cricket scores. Kobs have previously beaten Jinja-based Nile 97-0 and Gulu, who they face today away from home, 152-0! URU chief executive officer Ramsey Olinga explained that “the clubs chose to expand the league to 10 teams” as it will enhance development of players.
“It’s their wish to have more clubs playing at the top level to expose more players to the rigors at the top every week,” Olinga added. URU will hope that it leads to growth of the 15s game as it has in neighboring Kenya who did the same and have grown in leaps and bounds since.
The Kenyans narrowly missed the 2015 Rugby World Cup having expanded the pool of players to choose from for the national team – the Lions.
PLAYING TODAY
Gulu vs Kobs, Gulu
Buffaloes vs Warriors, Kyadondo(2.30pm)
Ezee Money Rhino vs Pirates
Mongers vs Rams, Entebbe
Heathens vs Impis, Kyadondo
