The 2014 Nile Special Uganda Rugby Cup gets underway on Saturday with the round one schedule set to involve first and second divisions sides battling at Legends, Kyadondo, Dam Waters, Makerere, Mukono, Jinja, and Gulu Rugby Grounds.
16 local rugby clubs in Gulu Elephants, Kobs, Boks, Heathens, Stallions, Mutoni Warriors, Jinja Hippos, Pirates, Sailors, Rhinos, Rams, Toyota Buffaloes, UCU Sheperds, Sadolin Mongers, TBC Walukuba and Impis will contend for top spot, with the losers of this particular knockout round proceeding to the shield quarters of the tournament and the victors progressing to the Cup quarters.
In efforts to avoid a repeat of last year’s Uganda Cup tragedy when Yusuf ‘Baban’ Zaidi, a 17 year-old Nile Rugby FC player and student of Jinja Secondary School then died while being rushed to hospital after collapsing on the pitch during a game Nile lost to Toyota Buffaloes, Uganda Rugby Union (URU) has banned all players below 18 from taking part in this year’s edition.
Nile Breweries have sponsored the tournament with a 150 million grubstake that will cater for facilitation worth 1 million for each of the 16 participating teams, 8.5 million as prize money and 1 million for the Most Valuable Player.
Five lucky fans will also win an all-expense paid trip to Dubai along with the Most Valuable Player iaccording to Isaac Sekasi, the Nile Breweries Sponsorship Manager. ” Last year we took two fans to Dubai and this year we are upping the stakes,” he said.
Uganda Cup Fixtures
Saturday 26th July
Sailors Vs Rhinos at 3:30pm, Legends
UCU Sheperds Vs Sadolin Mongers at 4:30pm, Mukono
Stallions Vs Mutoni Warriors at 4:30pm, Kyadondo
Gulu Elephants Vs Kobs at 4:30pm, Gulu
TBC Walukuba Vs Impis at 4:30pm, Jinja
Rams Vs Buffaloes at 4:30pm, Makerere
Jinja Hippos Vs Pirates at 4:30pm, Dam Waters
Boks Vs Heathens at 5:00pm, Legends
Former winners
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: Kobs