Black Pirates and Heathens will face off in the headline fixture of the opening day of the 2023 Rugby Premier League in what will be a repeat of the Uganda Cup final played last weekend.

This season opener will be played at King’s Park, the Sea Robbers’ home in Bweyogerere, during the first matchday on Saturday, 14th January.

The Uganda Rugby Union released the fixtures for the 2023 season on Monday, 19th December 2022.

Other Matchday One Fixtures

Newly-promoted side Walukuba Barbarians will face fourteen-time champions, Kobs, in the other headline tie of the opening matchday.

Jinja Hippos will host Impis at Dam Waters, Rams will make the trip to Entebbe to take on Mongers while Rhinos will make a short trip across Coronation Road to take Buffaloes at Kyadondo.

Key Dates

The first round of the Lions Cup (Heathens against Kobs) will be played on 28th January and the second round match falls on Fools’ Day (1st April).

Past League Winners

• 1990 – Kobs
• 1991 – Heathens
• 1992 – Heathens
• 1993 – Heathens
• 1994 x Not Held
• 1995 – Kobs
• 1996 – Impis
• 1997 – Kobs
• 1998 – Kobs
• 1999 – Kobs
• 2000 – Kobs
• 2001 – Kobs
• 2002 – Heathens
• 2003 – Kobs
• 2004 – Heathens
• 2005 – Heathens
• 2006 – Kobs
• 2007 – Kobs
• 2008 – Kobs
• 2009 – Heathens
• 2010 – Heathens
• 2011 – Heathens
• 2012 – Heathens
• 2013 – Heathens
• 2014 – Kobs
• 2015 – Heathens
• 2016 – Kobs
• 2017 – Heathens
• 2018 – Black Pirates
• 2019 – Heathens
• 2020 – Heathens
• 2021 – Kobs
• 2022 – Heathens

 

 

Heathens Rugby Football Club needed extra time to edge Black Pirates 20-14 in the Uganda Cup final played at the Works Ground in Entebbe.

The game was decided by the boot of fullback Joseph Oyet who scored a drop goal and converted a penalty in extra time to win heathens their twelfth Uganda Cup.

It was the second time the Heathens were playing beyond the normal 80 minutes as they won a coin toss to beat KOBs in the semifinals.

Pirates led 06-05 thanks to two penalties from skipper Ivan Magomu and extended the lead to 09-05 through a William Nkore penalty at the start of the second half.

A pair of penalties from Chris Lubanga and another from the man of the match Oyet gave Heathens a 14-09 lead but Timothy Odong scored a try that wasn’t converted and the game went into extra time.

Oyet then scored six points off the boot to seal the cup for Heathens.

Meanwhile, Impis Rugby Club beat Warriors 31-10 in the Shield final to retain their title for a second successive season.

The Uganda Cup finals marked the conclusion of the 2022 rugby season.

Avengers are the winners of the 2022 Uganda Cup.

Avengers defeated Thunderbirds 18-16 to win the cup for the first time in their history.

Kyoita’s penalty kick put Thunderbirds in the lead but Christine Akello responded with a try for Avengers.

Yvonne Njjuma then scored a try for the Thunderbirds converted by Kyoita who also converted two penalties.

Peace Lekuru later scored a try for Avengers converted by Amina Naluggya who also struck a match-winning penalty for Avengers.

It was the second edition of the women’s cup.

After a rough outing in the Middle East at the Dubai Sevens where they lost all their games, Uganda’s national team heads south of the continent for the Cape Town 7s.

The Cape Town 7s scheduled for 9th-11th December is the last event Uganda Sevens will be participating in this season’s HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series as they are just an invitational side.

While Denis Etwau was impressive on his international debut, the group with a number of new legs at this stage will be hoping to be better in South Africa.

However, it doesn’t get easier on the international stage with top sides looking to better at the second event of the season but it will be another great exposure for Etwau, Twafik Bagalana, Jacob Ochen, Timothy Mugisha, and Mubarak Wandera who are playing international sevens rugby for the first time.

Uganda is in Pool D alongside the USA, and Great Britain as well as Series joint leaders and defending champions Australia.

Cape Town 7s Fixtures

Friday 9th Dec 2022

• USA vs Uganda – 5:12pm (EAT)

Saturday 10th Dec 2022

• Australia vs Uganda – 11:13am (EAT)
• Great Britain vs Uganda – 4:54pm (EAT)

Uganda Cup Semifinals | Saturday, 10th

• KOBS vs Heathens – Legends, 4:00pm
• Rhinos vs Black Pirates – Kings Park, 4:00pm

Kampala Old Boys (KOBs) Rugby Club will face perennial rivals Heathens Rugby Club in the semifinals of the Uganda Cup as per the draws conducted.

KOBs will play host to their eternal rivals at Legends Rugby Ground on Saturday, 10th December with kickoff scheduled for 4:00pm.

It will be a repeat of the 2019 finals in which KOBs edged 15-14 Heathens courtesy of Ivan Kirabo’s final-minute penalty conversion at Kings Park in Bweyogerere.

The other semifinal will be between Black Pirates (3rd place finishers in 2019) against Rhinos who returned to the top-tier league a couple of seasons ago.

Pirates (winners of the cup in 2017) will host the game at Kings Park and will go into the game as outright favourites in the fixture given the disparity in the quality of players.

Shield Semifinals

In the early kick-off at Legends, Warriors will take on Mbarara Titans while the early kickoff at Kings Park will see regular shield winners Impis play Stallions.

Previous winners

1999: Heathens
2000: Heathens
2001: Heathens
2002: Heathens
2003: Heathens
2004: Heathens
2005: Kobs
2006: Kobs
2007: Pirates
2008: Kobs
2009: Heathens
2010: Kobs
2011: Kobs
2012: Kobs
2013: Heathens
2014: Heathens
2015: Heathens
2016: Heathens
2017: Pirates
2018: Kobs

Top sides in Uganda rugby are through to the penultimate round of the season-opening tournament – Uganda Cup.

Heathens, defending champions KOBs and Pirates all registered convincing victories on Saturday to advance to the semifinals of the tournament.

The three top sides were joined by the Rhinos who got the better of the Rams in the late kick-off at Legends Rugby Ground.

At Kyadondo Rugby Club, Heathens beat Buffaloes 22-08 thanks to tries from Herbert Chanpara and Claude Otema coupled with four penalties from Chris Lubanga. Buffaloes’ try was scored by Morgan Odoch while Wilfred Seguya converted a penalty.

KOBs beat Hippos 34-11 in the lunchtime kick-off at Legends. Player of the game Pius Ogena (2), Conrad Mukwaya, Fragi Odugo, Mark Osuna, and Daudi Ssemwami scored tries for the hosts two of which were converted by Joseph Aredo and Josiah Sempeke. Hippos’ only try of the game was scored by Aziz Bagalana while John Echeru and Yusuf Waiswa converted a penalty each.

Black Pirates got the better of the Mongers 33-23. Nathan Bwambale, Moses Zziwa, Joseph Kansiime, and Alvin Rukundo crossed the white chalk for Pirates Conversions. Skipper Ivan Magomu converted two tries and put away three penalties.

Xavier Otala scored two tries for Mongers and player of the game Edgar Kairu converted a penalty and scored the other try that was converted by Brian Kamanyire. Adrian Wasswa would later add another penalty in what was an entertaining second half.

National Sevens Series champions Jinja Hippos will have four of their players feature for Uganda at the Dubai Sevens and Cape Town Sevens.

The squad for the December 2-3 and December 9-11 tournaments was revealed on Friday morning by head coach Tolbert Onyango.

Denis Etwau, Jacob Ochen, Timothy Mugisha, and Twafik Bagalana who led Hippos to the National Sevens success and Pirates best player during the series Mubarak Wandera will be playing at their first international sevens tournament.

Usual suspects Michael Wokorach, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Adrian Kasito, Ian Munyani, Desire Ayera are part of the squad.

Pirates flyhalf William Nkore, forward Alex Aturinda and KOBs finisher Karim Arinaitwe complete the squad.

The most notable exclusion is Philip Wokorach. At Dubai Sevens, Uganda is in Pool C alongside third-seed France, Ireland, and Spain.

Uganda will take on France in their first game at 9:28am (EAT) on Friday, December 2 then battle Ireland at 1:36pm before playing Spain in their last Pool match at 6:07pm.

Uganda’s Lady Rugby Cranes fell to Kenya Lioness 23-3 in a crucial Rugby Africa Women’s Cup Pool B match played at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

Uganda needed nothing but a win to finish top of Pool B and qualify for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup First Division due next year.

However, Leonard Lubambula’s side was second best on the day as they were well beaten by a better side who will continue pursuing their long journey to the Women’s 2025 Rugby World Cup

Ann Goretti got Kenya’s opening try in the 11th minute and she later extended the lead 10 minutes later with a penalty.

Grace Adhiambo put Kenya 11-0 ahead with a drop goal before Uganda converted their penalty through Charlotte Mudoola.

Christabel Lindo ran through the Ugandan defense for another try to put Kenya 16-3 up before Rose Otieno put the icing on the cake toput an end to Uganda’s journey.

Uganda Women’s National 15s team, Lady Rugby Cranes, need nothing but victory when they take on Kenya on Wednesday at Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

It is the second game for either side after both beat Zambia in their respective openers in Group B of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.

Uganda dispatched Zambia 36-17 with Angella Nanyonjo, Charlotte Mudoola, and Peace Lekuru scoring a try each.

The Kenya Lionesses, on the other hand, beat Zambia by the same score-line as well 36-17 but got a bonus point having scored four tries.

Thus Kenya leads Pool B by five points, one ahead of Uganda on four going into the last group game.

Uganda’s head coach Leonard Lubambula has made some changes in the squad that faced Zambia in a bit to clinch a win.

There is a change in the second-row forwards with Winnie Atyang starting at 4 with Sarah Kirabo pushed to 5 ahead of Cabrine Kirabo.

The other change sees Sarah Nakafeero paving way for Norah Nabasirye at Scrum-half.

The winner of this match will not only top Pool B but also qualify for the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup First Division due next year.

Lady Cranes Starting 15 – 1 Patricia Anek, 2 Yvonne Najjuma, 3 Faith Namugga, 4 Winnie Atyang, 5 Sarah Kirabo, 6 Angella Nanyonjo, 7 Mary Gloria Ayot, 8 Lydia Namabiro, 9 Norah Nabasirye, 10 Charlotte Mudoola, 11 Agnes Nakuye, 12 Peace Lekuru, 13 Isabella Ira, 14 Grace Auma, 15 Rita Naddunga

On Wednesday, Uganda Lady Rugby Cranes beat Zambia 36-17 in the opening game of Pool B of the Rugby Africa Women’s Cup.

And on Saturday, the Kenya Lionesses registered a similar winning scoreline against the Zambians match played at Muteesa II Stadium in Wankulukuku.

The win means Zambia is eliminated and the decider on who advances to the knockout phase of the competition that also doubles as a World Cup Qualifier will be between Kenya and Uganda.

The Lionesses face the Lady Rugby Cranes on Wednesday, 2nd November.

How Kenya won the Game

Peruz Muyuka and Naomi Amuguni scored early tries in the first half with the second converted by Grace Adhiambo.

Meryl Lyamba and Millie Katombo scored a try each for Southern Africans who have played the two games well. Zambia’s tries sandwiched a drop goal from Anne Goretti who would later convert a penalty.

Christine Lindo grounded at the stroke of halftime to take Kenya’s lead to 23-12.

Leah Wambui went over in the second half with Gorreti adding the kicking points before converting another penalty for a 33-12 lead.

Lyamba completed her brace before Gorette put an end to the scoring off the tee.