2017 National Sevens Circuit Recap

Ten teams, six tournaments, one overall title, the battle was on for the National Sevens Circuit title. With the Rugby Cranes 15s season coming to a close, everyone was looking forward to seeing a lot less players on the field and a lot more speed. Shorter games with just as much excitement plus an adventure across the nation as teams tried to prove that they were indeed the best 7s side in the league. 

With Heathens coming off their title win in the 15s, the Kyadondo side was looking to take the 7s title from the KOBS so as to prevent them from winning it a third time in a row. However Betway KOBS were willing to fight tooth and nail to defend their title for a third time in a row.  Heathens had two of the three titles any league team could earn over the span of a year under their belt and were looking to make the sevens title their third and wrap up the year as the Overall Champion but Betway KOBS was not about to sit on the sidelines and watch that happen. 

Action Shot from Kyadondo 7s

Though KOBS were not the only side after the Hima Heathens as their own sister team Buffaloes was not ready to throw in the towel either. As a side that fosters some of the best 7s National team players, they were not going down without a battle. But who said the fuss was only in Kyadondo, back at Legends, KOBS had to show Pirates, Rhinos and Warriors who was boss before they could cross over and think to battle the Heathens. 

As if the tension wasn't thick enough in Kampala, the Makerere Impis and RAMS came to fight for what was left of their reputation in 7s and they could not be counted out of this competition just yet. Of course the mongers from Entebbe came well prepared for anything and everything while the Hippos from Jinja came to bring a new spark to the usual collection of Rugby sides in this tournament.

Six weeks of intense, rib cracking and nail biting rugby moments were in store for the fans but we do not think anyone could have predicted how this tournament turned out. Shock after shock, this tournament took us all on a whirlwind. Legends returned onto the field after so many years and many uprising youngsters showed what they could bring to the table. Sit back and relax as Rugby 256 takes you back through the last six weeks of the National 7s Circuit that turned out to be an exceptional showdown.


Kyadondo 7s 

The Legend returns to school all youngsters. (Timothy Mudoola)

The circuit kicked off at Kyadondo with KOBS showing no mercy and early intent to retaining the crown. They went past Stallions 52-0 before strolling past Rams and Warriors 27-10 and 29-0 respectively in the pool stages before beating Warriors and Pirates in the quarters and semis respectively. In the final they met a stubborn Buffaloes and needed a sudden death score to beat them 7-12. However the highlight of this sevens leg definitely had to be the appearance of Timothy Mudoola dawning the blue and white kit. In moments like this, one can’t help but miss the legends that are in retirement. Timothy came back and showed all the youngsters that he still got it. His speed, precision, effective execution and reading of the field was just like he never left. He obliterated each and every side that he faced during that leg and for a moment one could have thought Timothy helped get the KOBS off to a great start. But the next week they were headed to Jinja, and all eyes were on KOBS to see if they would start a winning streak going.

Ijongat James - Betway KOBS

Semwami Daudi aka DMuscle - Rimula Rhinos

Dam Waters, Jinja 7s
In Jinja like it had been in Kyadondo, the men in blue eased through pool A, which had hosts Jinja Hippos, Rams and Elgon Wolves, conceding just one try in the group stages. In the quarters they thrashed Walukuba 57-0 before going past Warriors 22-0 in the semis to set up a repeat of the Kyadondo final against Buffaloes which the latter lost 21-7, for KOBS to record their second win of the circuit. This was the last leg played by lads who had been summoned by Tolbert Onyango for the sevens training ahead of the Oktoberfest 7s and the Africa Rugby Sevens Championship. This was a major turning point in the 7s circuit and from here on depth was going to play a major role in the next legs.

Charles Uhuru - Toyota Buffaloes

Lawrence Ssebuliba - Hima Heathens

Henry Rujumba Memorial 7s
The return to Kampala at Legends saw Hima Heathens get off the mark with a leg win after being stopped on two occasions by Toyota Buffaloes in the semis. The circuit also saw Buffaloes reach their third final but still had nothing to show for as they had lost all three so far. Aaron Ofoyrwoth and Joseph Oyet run the show to give Heathens a deserved 21-12 win in the final. Pirates could manage a last eight finish at their own event.

Joseph Oyet- Hima Heathens

Plascon Mongers

Gulu 7s
However in Gulu, fortune finally went Buffaloes’ way as they at last won a leg in rainy and muddy conditions at Gulu High School. After falling short in three consecutive finals, Buffaloes revenged their Rujumba Memorial loss to Heathens when the sister clubs met in the final once again. Revenge is best served cold and Buffaloes was more than happy to steal this leg title from right under the Heathens noses. After losing five players to Cranes training, depth helped Edgar Lemirigah`s men persevere through. This leg also saw a coin toss decide a semifinal between Warriors and Heathens, it went the latter’s` way.

Black Pirates

Solomon Okia-Toyota Buffaloes

Makerere 7s

Plascon Mongers

At this stage, the title run was beginning to take shape but with the loss of many of their players to the Cranes Sevens set up, various sides were finding it difficult to live up to their expectations. Here the trio of Timothy Luyirika, Hannington Mukalazi and Bernard Twijukye turned on the style as Entebbe Plascon Mongers left all in awe after playing some of the best rugby of the season so far. After registering 14-0, 12-0 and 15-7 victories against Pirates, Kyambogo and favorites Buffaloes respectively in the pool stage, Mongers went on to edge hosts Impis 14-12 in the quarters for a place in the semifinals. A 22-5 win over Rimula Rhinos would then the book them a place in the final where they beat Betway KOBS 21-15.



Kitaka Memorial 7s
The grand finale arrived with three sides having a chance to be crowned champions at the end of the day. KOBS with 91 points, Buffaloes with 89 and Heathens with 87 all came in hopeful but there was only going to be one winner. KOBS needed to make the final and it would be enough to get them the 2017 National Sevens Circuit title on the same day they were honoring one of their own Edward Kizito Kitaka, a man who did all he could to put KOBS and Uganda rugby in a good place.  A 21-5 victory over Rhinos in the semis ended the title race, as it was staying with KOBS for yet another year. The day ended with two different winners in their own rights, Heathens won the Kitaka Memorial Sevens courtesy of a 26-7 win over hosts Betway KOBS in the final while KOBS were overall winners after six weeks of action.

Kitaka Memorial 7s Champions - Hima Heathens

National 7s Circuit Champions - Betway KOBS

The tournament is now water under a bridge after Betway KOBS took the honors for the third time in a row despite losing their home leg, the Kitaka Memorial Sevens, to Hima Heathens 26-7 in the final. After six weeks of traveling around the country to watch exceptional 7s rugby, we must say, everyone is excited to turn over to 15s. There was so much potential that shone in this tournament that we can’t wait to see exhibit itself in the league 15s. Of course there is Oktoberfest 7s to look forward to as well as the Africa Rugby 7s Championship where Tolbert Onyango’s boys will once again do us proud.