At its launch and during the build-up, the promise of the new Nile Special Rugby Championship was that there would be exciting must-watch clashes in each round. For example, during the opening round last weekend, Heathens hosted Pirates while Rams and Impis battled in the Makerere Derby. The second round this weekend has Pirates taking on KOBs and the Jinja Derby between Walukuba and Hippos.
But what might have passed under the round is that every round not only changes the regular season table standings but also alters the playoffs’ quarterfinal pairings. As it stands from the opening round last weekend, Rhinos and Mongers are leading the standings. KOBs are the lowest-ranked seed in eighth place while Pirates are out of the playoffs in ninth place. By the end of the second round this weekend, it will have changed. Without a doubt.
Now while it is still early days in the competition to start thinking about the playoffs, none of the twelve clubs should make the mistake of resting on their laurels. Especially Pirates and KOBs who are accustomed to winning but risk registering three successive losses for probably the first time in their respective histories.
Pirates lost to Kobs in the Uganda Cup quarterfinal on January 6 and followed that up with another defeat against Heathens in the championship opening round on February 3. It is more than a month since last season’s double men’s champions won a game of rugby.
Kobs, on the other hand, lost against Heathens in the Uganda Cup semifinal on January 13 and then fell to Hippos in the championship opening round on February 3. This is one of the poorest runs of form in their sixty-year history.
As the Baganda say, ‘Gwewaalabyeko ye mwaana’ (loosely translated as ‘The one you have seen is the child’), both Pirates and KOBs need to have wins in their bags before the situation gets out of hand. They must win.
Fortunately or, rather, unfortunately, the first person they have to do it against is each other.
Nile Special Rugby (Men) Championship Round Two Fixtures:
- Abel Dhaira Memorial Stadium: Walukuba vs Jinja Hippos
- Kings Park: Black Pirates vs KOBs
- Kyadondo Rugby Club: Heathens vs Warriors
- Kitante Primary School: Eagles vs Buffaloes
- Legends Rugby Grounds: Rhinos vs Impis
- The Graveyard, Makerere: Rams vs Mongers
All matches are scheduled to kick off at 4 p.m. EAT (local time).
The Jinja Derby between Walukuba and Hippos is expected to light up the city at the Abel Dhaira Memorial Stadium as both teams wrestle for royalty in Busoga Kingdom. Heathens and Warriors are usually friends during the transfer window but the huge margins in their matches are far from that. Eagles and Buffaloes have a score to settle after the former pipped the latter to a quarterfinal slot during the Uganda Cup. Similarly for Rhinos and Impis. But most crucially for Rams and Mongers whose last meeting was decided by a coin toss after extra time during the Uganda Cup semifinal.
One is lost for choice on which match to watch with such unique storylines.
