The promotional pathway to the 2027 Uganda Rugby 7s Series ended with four teams earning core status after a dramatic final stop at Kampala Rugby Club.
Mbarara-based side KIU Crows and Makerere Impis were the men’s teams that sealed their spots, while Kitgum Queens and home team Panthers secured the women’s slots.
Crows made history by finishing top of the overall series standings, becoming the first team from Western Uganda to earn core status in the national 7s series.
They won Stop 1 in Busukuma and finished as runners-up at Stop 2 this evening, ending the campaign with an impressive 8 wins from 10 matches.
The surprise of the day was Makerere Impis, who leapfrogged Kakira Simbas to snatch the second qualifying spot with 39 series points.
Impis won the tournament final 15–5 against Crows to finish three points clear of Kakira Simbas, despite having lost 10–5 to the Simbas in Round 3.
In the women’s qualifiers, both Panthers and Kitgum Queens finished tied on 41 series points. However, Panthers claimed top spot thanks to a superior points difference (+103) compared to Queens (+86).
The Queens returned to core status in style, going unbeaten at Stop 2 with three wins from three matches to force the points tie and book their place alongside the Panthers.
