Warriors Rugby Club spent the entire 2022 season in the trenches fighting for survival as a top-flight side in the XVs league and a core side in the Sevens Series.
They managed to stay afloat in the Sevens just by making the Cup Quarterfinal during the Buffaloes Sevens series finale. But in the league, their fate was sealed when Impis ran them over 43-10 to end the relegation scrap with four matches left to spare.
Warriors dropped to the second tier for the first time in their decade-long history. They will compete against four others; Eagles, Jaguars, Pacers, and Kyambogo, in the Central Region Championship.
The Central Regional Championship is one of four regions – the others being Eastern, Northern, and Western – which will play for promotion to the Nile Special Rugby Premier League. This was after the promotional pathway was redefined and reserved for only independent teams.
Warriors’ life outside the top flight begins at Kitante Hill School against the Eagles. Coach Juma Ochan has recovered from injury to resume his playing duties and will come off the bench with fellow Warriors loyalist Henry Musisi.
The other fixture of the weekend will be across the city in Entebbe between Jaguars and Pacers. Kyambogo, who would have been involved in an inter-university tie with MUBS, have a bye weekend after the Nakawa-based institution withdrew from the championship.