The National Sevens Series returns this Saturday and Sunday at the Sai Pali Institute in Kawuku, Entebbe.
The tournament dubbed the Plascon Entebbe 7s is the third of seven stops in this year’s series and will feature all 12 core men’s sides and the 6 core women’s teams. These 18 core sides are joined by 6 other invitational sides, which include the Victoria Sharks, who are the Central Uganda 7s champions, alongside the Makerere Impis, Warriors and the Entebbe Jaguars in the men’s category, while the Ewes and Panthers shall compete in the women’s category.
The defending champions, the Heathens, started the National 7s Series on a high, making it to the final of the Coronation 7s, but were put to the sword in the Gulus, finishing 9th overall.
Fellow traditional giants like the Black Pirates and the KOBs are also yet to show up to this year’s series, opting to rest some of their more senior players, some of whom played at the Rugby Africa Cup.
This has created a clear opportunity for sides like the Walukuba Barbarians, Rhinos and Buffaloes to take the bull by the horns and finish in medal positions in the 2 stops played so far.
Going into the Entebbe 7s, the time to sing redemption songs is done; now it is a matter of playing catch-up for the sleeping giants. Teams one would call midtable sides, like the Eagles and Mongers, have shown us that they have it in them not only to frustrate but also humiliate the traditionally bigger sides.
The threat that is posed by the invitational sides can also not be ignored, going into the Entebbe 7s. Sharks, Impis and Warriors have a point to prove in the men’s category, while the Ewes have the right tools and personnel to put up a show in Entebbe.
WOMEN
- Pool A: Avengers, Walukuba Titans, Nile Rapids, Ewes
- Pool B: Thunderbirds, Black Pearls, She Wolves, Panthers
MEN
- Pool A: Buffaloes, Rams, Gulu City Falcons, Warriors
- Pool B: Walukuba Barbarians, KOBs, Elgon Wolves, Sharks
- Pool C: Rhinos, Pirates, Hippos, Impis
- Pool D: Mongers, Eagles, Heathens, Jaguars
FIXTURES
Round One
- Eagles Vs Heathens
- Mongers Vs Jaguars
- Pirates Vs Hippos
- Rhinos Vs Impis
- KOBs Vs Wolves
- Walukuba Vs Sharks
- Rams Vs Falcons
- Buffaloes Vs Warriors
Women
- Black Pearls Vs She Wolves
- Thunderbirds Vs Panthers
- Titans Vs Nile Rapids
- Avengers Vs Ewes
Round Two
- Eagles Vs Jaguars
- Mongers Vs Heathens
- Pirates Vs Impis
- Rhinos Vs Hippos
- KOBs Vs Sharks
- Walukuba Vs Wolves
- Rams Vs Warriors
- Buffaloes Vs Falcons
Women
- Black Pearls Vs Panthers
- Thunderbirds Vs She Wolves
- Titans Vs Ewes
- Avengers Vs Nile Rapids
Round Three
- Heathens Vs Jaguars
- Mongers Vs Eagles
- Hippos Vs Impis
- Rhinos Vs Pirates
- Wolves vs. Sharks
- Walukuba vs KOBs
- Falcons vs Warriors
- Buffaloes vs Rams
Women (Sunday)
- She Wolves vs Panthers
- Thunderbirds vs Black Pearls
- Nile rapids vs Ewes
- Avengers vs Titans