The 2024 Nile Special Rugby Sevens season will conclude this weekend at King’s Park Arena in Bweyogerere, home to the men’s Black Pirates and the women’s Black Pearls. Both teams, despite being hosts, find themselves in second place as they enter the final weekend of action.
The Pirates, sitting on 103 points, trail the Heathens by five points, while the Black Pearls are nine points behind the Entebbe Avengers, who lead the women’s competition with 124 points. For the Avengers, reaching the semi-finals in this weekend’s circuit, running from October 5 to 6, would be enough to secure the championship, marking a significant turnaround after years of trailing the Pearls.
Last Sunday, on September 29, the Avengers showcased their dominance by defeating the Pearls 20-7 in the Mbarara 7s final, held at Kakyeka Stadium. After trailing 5-7 at halftime, the Avengers mounted a strong second-half performance, underscoring their grip on this year’s championship. This victory followed a season where they have won four of the six circuits, in contrast to the Pearls’ dominance last year when they won all five.
Fazirah Namukwaya, a key player for the Avengers, attributed their success to the hard work and determination to surpass the Pearls. Despite missing key players like Peace Lekuru and Maimuna Nassozi due to international duty, the Avengers have remained competitive, showcasing the team’s depth and maturity.
According to Regina Lunyolo, a former women’s rugby representative with the Uganda Rugby Union, the Avengers’ chemistry and experience, bolstered by players like Sarah Kirabo, Juliet Nandawula, and Christine Akello, have been pivotal in their resurgence.
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On the men’s side, the competition between the Heathens and Pirates is set to go down to the wire. Both teams stumbled in Mbarara, with the Heathens falling in the quarter-finals and the Pirates missing a chance to overtake them after a semi-final loss. For the Pirates to win, they must secure victory while hoping the Heathens falter in the semi-finals.
This weekend’s matches will determine whether the Heathens and Avengers can maintain their leads, or if the Pirates and Pearls can stage a last-minute upset to reclaim their dominance.
