Elgon Wolves’ maiden season as a top-flight rugby club in Uganda has, so far, been no honeymoon. Their first three fixtures in the 2025 men’s Uganda Rugby Premiership were against Plascon Mongers, Stanbic Black Pirates, and Platinum Credit Heathens — three opponents who have consistently finished in the top half of the standings for over a decade.
Their most recent, against Heathens, was the biggest mountain to climb. Away from home for the first time to face the defending champions. Heathens were as ruthless as ever, dispatching the Bamasaaba for 83-06 points (54-03 at halftime).
Heathens’ head coach Mohammed Athiyo described it as a “baptism of fire” for Elgon Wolves.
“There is room for improvement with the teams coming up from the region. Although you could say, for example, today was a baptism of fire for Elgon Wolves. But despite it all, they put up a good fight,” Athiyo said to Kawowo Sports.
There were moments, especially immediately after halftime, when Elgon Wolves had their tails up and asked questions of Heathens. They showed flashes of what put them ahead of all other regional teams but the requirements for success at this level are much higher than Elgon Wolves have ever needed.
Trevor Watsombe, Elgon Wolves’ team manager and stand-in coach at Kyadondo, said, “Things are getting tight for us” but he is hopeful that “a bad beginning makes a good ending.”
“Honestly, the first three games have been tough. You know, we are just entering the big league and things are getting tight for us. We have faced teams that have been in the premiership for a long time, they are experienced and are very good players. But now we are going back home to polish up becuase we are trying to look at ‘a bad beginning makes a good ending.’ We are moving on baby steps,” Watsombe said to Kawowo Sports.
Elgon Wolves will have some relief in Round Four of the Premiership next Saturday. They will take on Kampani’s Eagles at Kitante. Eagles got promoted in 2023 and were in the Relegation Playoffs last season.
While it will still be no walk in the park, that’s a gentler slope to climb for the infant club born at the slopes of Mount Elgon.
