- Uganda Rugby Premiership semifinal Play Offs | Friday, April 25
- Heathens Vs Pirates – Kyadondo Rugby Grounds
In the unforgiving arena of knockout rugby, there’s room for second chances in the second legs but with bold ambition and raw determination.
The 2025 Uganda Rugby Premiership playoffs have sliced the competition to the bone, leaving only four teams standing.
Among them, two of the fiercest rivals in Ugandan rugby, Heathens and Black Pirates, are poised to clash in what promises to be an electrifying semifinal at Kyadondo Grounds this Friday afternoon.
The knockout stage, generous in offering one more shot at glory, has become an all-or-nothing battlefield. And for the Black Pirates and the Heathens, today’s match isn’t just another fixture, it’s a war for legacy.
The Black Pirates are still riding the high of their 2023 triumph where they brushed aside KOBs 23-7 at Legends to claim their second league title.
It was a season that saw Ivan Magomu rise as a central figure, orchestrating plays with surgical precision and fierce leadership.
This season began on a similar note of dominance, though not without hiccups most notably a loss to KOBs in the regular season, their only blemish thus far.
Still, the Pirates showed their mettle in the quarterfinals, overpowering Walukuba 36-09 in the first leg and maintaining control in the second at King Park Arena. Now, they have one goal in mind: to reach the final and seize a third league title.
With William Nkore’s kicking form sharp as ever and a strong scrum that could rattle any pack, the Pirates are coming to Kyadondo not just to compete but to command.
Across the pitch, the Heathens bring with them the weight of tradition and a hunger that never fades. They are the record champions for a reason and even after a loss to the Pirates earlier in the season, they refuse to be counted out.
Having dispatched the Victoria Sharks with clinical efficiency in the quarterfinals, the Heathens return to familiar ground today with their eyes set on a staggering 18th league title. And in a game where every breakdown and set piece can tilt the balance, experience will be key.
Enter Michael Wokorach, Claude Otema, Aaron Ofoyrwoth and rising star Daniel Malcolm, a cast of players who know the pressure of knockout rugby and the pride of wearing yellow and green.
Yet much of the Heathens’ game plan may hinge on the line-out, an area where they aim to dominate. Hooker Sylvester Munguacel has proven accurate and confident with his throws, while Simon Diego Olet and Aziz Khan are expected to be towers of strength in the air. With the Pirates expected to hit hard in the scrum, Heathens must seize the skies.
However, before the Friday men’s action, there will be a women’s Matchday 11 game where Thunderbirds will face She Wolves at 2 PM in the same venue.
