Heathens RFC lifted the 2026 National 7s Series trophy, bringing an end to a two-year wait.

The Heathens last won a major title in their 2024 treble-winning season, thus ending a 713-day drought.

Poetically, the Heathens got back to winning ways by securing the 2026 National 7s title, which also happens to be the major trophy they last won on October 6, 2024.

This year’s accolade came after two semifinal finishes in the league and a silver medal in the 2025 Uganda Cup and National 7s.

The Kyadondo-based side got off to a false start at the Stone City 7s, finishing 4th despite naming arguably the strongest squad on paper.

At the Rujumba 7s, losing a club stalwart like Aaron Ofoyrwoth wasn’t enough to stop the Heathens, who ended up in second place.

For the rest of the Series, Heathens had to play without some of their key players like Norbert Okeny and Denis Etwau, who were called to the Rugby Cranes 7s team.

Despite the absence of the more experienced players, the young and new players stepped up for Heathens to manage another silver finish in their home Kyadondo 7s Stop. Players like Lawrence Ssebuliba and Innocent Thomas Gwokto were recalled into the fold, while marquee signings, Andrew Odhiambo and Gift Lukyamuzi, took over the reins.

At the Lawii Rwodi 7s in Gulu, Daniel Otema and Alphonse Openy stepped up to make sure that Heathens won their first National 7s Stop. This win cemented Heathens’ spot at the top, and the yellow machine held on despite faltering at the Kyabazinga 7s by finishing 4th.

With only one Stop left, all the Heathens had to do was make sure that they advanced from a tough Pool A that featured historical rivals, the KOBs, at the Kabaka Coronation 7s.

The eventual Stop winners initially lost to the KOBs in the Pool phase, but managed to pay back with interest in the semifinal, winning 22-00. By that point, the Heathens were already confirmed as National 7s overall winners, but they still yearned for some icing on the cake.

In the final, an Aaron Ofoyrwoth masterclass ensured that the Heathens had a comfortable 17-point lead at halftime. Despite the Walukuba Barbarians attempting a comeback by scoring a converted try, the Heathens’ lead was quite insurmountable, hence finishing as double winners at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

Before the 2024 National 7s title, the Heathens had waited 11 years to win a 7s title, but had been very dominant in the 15s game. With the Uganda Cup up ahead, we wait and see if the winning form will continue.

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After winning the first two National 7s stops and then finishing 6th at the Kyadondo 7s, the Nile Rapids have a point to prove in Gulu.

The Nile Rapids started the 2025 National 7s series on a dark note, entirely missing out on the Coronation 7s, then being represented by a makeshift squad at the Gulu 7s.

When they return to Gulu for the Lawii Rwodi 7s, they are going to be looking like an entirely different side from that team that played last year.

Additionally, the Rapids have welcomed back some of their star players like Prossy Akello and Jemima Namukose, who were away at the East Africa Schools’ games with Jinja SSS in Tanzania.

The Rapids find themselves in Pool B alongside the She Wolves, Ewes and Black Pearls, sides that they have eased past in the first two stops of the 2026 National 7s.

The Rapids missed the services of Shaine Josephine Babirye at the Kyadondo 7s, but she has been named for the Lawii Rwodi 7s, despite still being an injury doubt. It is expected that Fatuma Kirabo will take on the scrumhalf role as Babirye’s minutes are managed, while Halima Likambo will be on the bench to deputise the two aforementioned starters.

In Pool A, it is a clash of giants as the Thunderbirds, who are clear favourites to top the group, will have the Avengers, Walukuba Titans and Mbale Eagles to deal with.

The Avengers and Titans will have to fight for second place when they face off in the first women’s group game of Pool A on Saturday. The Mbale Eagles have been a one-woman show, as Mastula Namboozo has been tasked with carrying the newly promoted side across the line.

The Women’s pool games shall be played across two days as the action in Gulu will kick off at 10:30 a.m. instead of the usual 8:00 a.m. due to the national cleaning day.

Women’s Pools:

• Pool A – Thunderbirds, Avengers, Walukuba Titans, Mbale Eagles
• Pool B – She Wolves, Ewes, Nile Rapids, Black Pearls

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Rams RFC did the unthinkable, defeating the Walukuba Barbarians, Black Pirates and Heathens to win the Kyadondo 7s.

The Rams arrived at the Kyadondo 7s as underdogs, having only finished 11th and 6th in the first two stops of the National 7s.

The side started Day 1 of the Kyadondo 7s with an emphatic 24-7 win against the Mongers, then capped off the day with an important draw against Black Pirates after Ryan Thierry Jjuuko kicked the ball into touch to salvage 2 match points.

On Day 2, the Rams continued with their impressive form, defeating the National 7s defending champions, Walukuba Barbarians, 22-14.

However, the most memorable win came in the semi-final against the Black Pirates, whom they stunned early in the first half through Hosanna Opileni’s brilliant try. From thereon, it was one-way traffic as Opileni finished off a hat trick of tries, while Jjuuko scored a try of the ages off the scrum.

With a scrum in the 22 territory of the Pirates, Edrine Obbo’s scrum was successful, passing the ball out to Jjuuko, who was in first receiver. Jjuuko had the passing option of Hashim Kabogoza at center but didn’t need him, pulling off a brilliant dummy switch to run out to the wing.

At the wing, Yusuf Semakula was ready to receive the ball, but once again Jjuuko pulled off an audacious dummy switch, leaving his own teammate beaten, in addition to the two Pirates defenders and Kawowo Sports’ very own cameramen.

In the final, the Kyadondo 7s eventual MVP, Semakula, was blessed twice with a lucky bounce of the ball, first from a kick by Jjuuko, and then next by his own sheer brilliance.

Lawrence Ssebuliba’s two unconverted tries were not enough for the Heathens as they ended up losing the final 12-10.

With that win, the Rams climbed up the overall standings from 9th to 6th ahead of the Lawiirwodi 7s in Gulu.

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