The 2025 Rugby Uganda Cup has taken yet another hit after Kyadondo-based Thunderbirds RFC announced their exit from the competition.
Uganda Cup is slated to start tomorrow (Saturday, October 18) at various venues across the country, including in Mbale, where the Mbale Eagles were meant to host the Thunderbirds.
Thunderbirds’ exit comes just a day after the Black Pearls clarified why they were not going to participate in the Uganda Cup.
Both the Thunderbirds and the Black Pearls raise similar reasons as to why they won’t be competing. The most obvious reason fronted by both sides is the availability, or lack thereof, of players.
Ahead of the Rugby Africa Women’s 7s tournament in November, 18 players were called to the National Team training camp, hence being unavailable for their clubs. The Black Pearls sent 3 players, while the Thunderbirds are being represented by as many as 7 players.
In addition to National Team engagements, both clubs have suffered significant injuries and fatigue that have prompted them to pull out. For example, Grace Auma and Leona Acen of the Black Pearls recently underwent surgeries that have kept them off the pitch for a long time.
Both teams also boast of young talent that is currently engaged in school with the ongoing National Secondary School examinations.
While this may be a wake-up call for teams to widen their player base and improve on their squad depth, revisiting how the annual activity calendar is drafted by the union could cure some of these issues.