The Black Pirates are set to make a historic third National Rugby Premiership playoff final appearance after going past Heathens with a 36-30 aggregate win.
Since the return to the knock-out league format in 2024, the Pirates have featured in every final, losing to the Heathens in the first and defeating the Jinja Hippos in 2025, in a final that went to extra time.
This year, the Pirates are going to meet a Buffaloes side that cruised past Makerere Impis in the semifinal.
The Pirates and Heathens have split the last 4 league titles, but the Pirates now have the enviable opportunity to become back-to-back league winners.
The KOBs, who bowed out in the quarterfinals, are the last side to lift the league trophy in 2021, after a return-to-play round-robin league format due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Eric Mulamula starred for the Pirates at Kyadondo Rugby Club when they defeated the Heathens 15-03. At the Kings Park Arena, it was Timothy Kisiga’s turn to put up a man-of-the-match performance. He started at flyhalf, but also featured at full back when Haruna Muhammad was sent to the sin bin, then finished the game off at Center in a 27-21 defeat to the Heathens.
In the semifinals, the Pirates maintained a core of 12 players who started in both legs, with a total of 20 players featured in both legs. Additionally, Pirates’ trusted hooker, Nathan Bwambale, reached a 150-game appearance milestone since 2016, when the club officially started keeping records.
The final between the Black Pirates and Buffaloes shall be played at the Kings Park Arena on the 27th of June at 4 PM.