This weekend, the Uganda Rugby Championship enters its third week of competition as teams get serious with the placements and try to establish daylight with the relegation zone.
After two rounds, the Platinum Credit Heathens, Rhinos, Jinja Hippos, and the Plascon Mongers are the only unbeaten sides. At the same time, the KCB KOBs headline the winless crew, coupled with the Lifeguard Rams, Walukuba Barbarians and Warriors.
With their bragging rights on the line, the KCB KOBs are playing the Kampani’s Eagles in a game that has seen the venue change to Legends this Friday. After a losing start to Hippos and Pirates, the KOBs are looking at the Eagles for a taste of their first win this campaign. The Eagles, on the other hand, will use this chance to claim another scalp after their famous victory against the Stanbic Black Pirates in the Uganda Cup opening pool stages round got heads turned and noticing them.
On Saturday, the Rhinos host the rather guardless Rams. The Rams put up a good account of themselves in the Uganda Cup to go to their first-ever finals, eventually losing to the Heathens. Since then, they have found themselves languishing in the relegation zone with back-to-back losses to Impis and the Mongers – both losses reverse results for the knockout stages wins in the Uganda Cup. They are coming against an unbeaten Rhinos side that has deliberately been going under the radar since the National 7s calendar.
The Walukuba Barbarians want to turn their fortunes this season but face a daunting task against the unbeaten Mongers in Entebbe. After a somewhat successful 2022 campaign, the Barbarians are largely misfiring and need to tighten their arsenal to survive the Mongers in their backyard.
It is an uphill task for the returning Warriors, who make the trip to Bweyogerere to face the reigning champions, Stanbic Black Pirates. The Warriors are staring into the likelihood of three straight losses, with the Pirates’ win last week anticipated to push them on for another and keep in touch with the leading pack.
In Makerere, it’s a mid-table battle between landlords Impis and their Kyadondo counterparts, Toyota Buffaloes. With both teams on one win from two games, this weekend is crucial to ensure they stay within reach of the table-leading unbeaten squad.
In what is hoisted as the game of the week, the Platinum Credit Heathens are in Jinja this weekend against the Jinja Hippos, a side whose 15-a-side win against the former is ever getting closer. The two met in the quarterfinals of the Uganda Cup, with Hippos mounting a second-half comeback before Daniel Okello put the game to bed. It is the hour of revenge for the Jinja Hippos.
Matchday Three
Friday, 16th February 2024
- Kampani’s Eagles vs KCB KOBs
Saturday, 17th February 2024
- Jinja Hippos vs Platinum Credit Heathens
- Rhinos vs Lifeguard Rams
- Stanbic Black Pirates vs Warriors
- Plascon Mongers vs Walukuba Barbarians
- Impis vs Toyota Buffaloes
