A fiery rematch headlines the 2025 Uganda Rugby Premiership semifinals as last year’s finalists, Heathens and Black Pirates, lock horns once again, this time with a place in the final on the line.
With the first leg set for April 26 and the second on May 3, rugby fans are bracing for a two-part thriller between the league’s fiercest rivals adding to their regular season encounter where Pirates came out victorious.
Both sides arrive at this showdown through dramatically different routes. The Heathens, reigning champions and perennial heavyweights, stumbled to a 10-10 draw against Victoria Sharks in their quarterfinal return leg. But a dominant 41-26 first leg win ensured they cruised through with a 51-36 aggregate score.
For the Pirates, the path was equally commanding but far more chaotic. They thumped Walukuba Barbarians 36-06 at Kings Park Arena before tensions boiled over in a second-half scuffle.
Pirates’ Haruna Mohammed and Walukuba’s Ahmed Ssekyanzi were both sin-binned and in a dramatic twist, the Barbarians refused to return to the field.
The Pirates advanced with a 63-26 aggregate, but the controversy did little to overshadow their clinical dominance.
Now, with their paths converging once again, the Pirates seek redemption for last year’s heartbreak while the Heathens are focused on keeping their crown. It’s more than just a semifinal, it’s a rivalry that has come to define Ugandan club rugby.
Meanwhile, the KCB KOBs delivered a moment of pure rugby drama in their quarterfinal clash against the Toyota Buffaloes.
Down by 10 points late in the game, the KOBs pulled off a stunning comeback, winning 37-36 on aggregate thanks to a last kick conversion by Joseph Aredo that sent their fans into a frenzy. Their reward? A semifinal date with the red-hot Jinja Hippos.
Quietly making waves, the Hippos dismantled the Rhinos 52-30 over two legs and have emerged as the dark horses of the tournament.
With momentum and belief on their side, they’re now just two matches from what would be a historic finals appearance.
Semifinal Fixtures | First Leg: April 26 | Second Leg: May 3
- Heathens vs Black Pirates – Kyadondo Rugby Grounds | 4 PM
- KOBs vs Jinja Hippos – Legends | 4 PM
