Rugby fans have developed the custom of always lamenting when the 15s Premiership comes to a close.
But, that should change as the promotional Rugby playoffs to join the top tier have been confirmed for late May this year.
The Quarterfinals will be played on 27th May, with Graveyard in Makerere and Entebbe hosting two games each.
A week later, rugby will invade Jinja for the semi-finals, with the final to be played on Saturday, 10th June 2023, at Legends Rugby Club.
The Kitante Eagles and Warriors will represent the Central League while the Western entourage will include Mbarara Titans and Tooro Lions.
Lira Big Boys will fight for the Northern division flag, while Elgon Wolves and Njeru Hurricanes will represent the East.
Gulu Falcons will host Njeru Hurricanes in Makerere, while the Kitante Eagles will play Lira Big Boys.
In Entebbe, the Elgon Wolves will play Mbarara Titans, while Tooro Lions will play the Warriors in the late kickoff.
The Playoffs return after a very tumultuous 2022 that saw the Uganda Rugby Union revise the rule book, tear it up and rewrite it.
This followed the admission saga between the BOKs (junior side of the KOBs) and Kyambogo Rugby.
In 2022, Kyambogo was scheduled to face Northern Region champions Lira Bulls in the first semifinal, according to the URU’s first communique.
Police at Makerere Graveyard during last year’s playoffs
After the BOKs petition, the Kyambogo slot was awarded to BOKs – a decision that sent the rugby Twitterati into a frenzy.
While there was heavy security at last year’s edition, the forecast is that the atmosphere will be cordial and there will be more rugby than last year.
2022 had two semi-finals and the finale, but this year’s edition has four quarterfinals, adding some spice.
By: James Kavuma
Courtesy Photos
