The women’s four consecutive time defending champions, the Black Pearls, have officially pulled out of the league.

Since the turn of the decade, the Black Pearls have won the women’s league but won’t be able to carry on and defend it in 2026, citing financial constraints. The Pearls failed to honour their home fixture against the Nile Rapids at Kings Park Arena last Saturday, communicating that their title defence had come to an abrupt end.

A statement released from the Uganda Rugby Union this Monday evening acknowledges the withdrawal of the Pearls from the league, and indicates that URU is well aware of the challenges the women’s clubs go through to not only put Squads together, but also present them for game days.

In a meeting attended by URU officials and representatives from the Black Pearls held on Monday afternoon, it was clear that the Pearls would not go back on their decision to exit the league. This leaves the league with 6 women’s sides, with the Thunderbirds, Avengers and Nile Rapids as frontrunners for the now vacant title.

According to URU, the Black Pearls are welcome to rejoin the league next season, given that there won’t be a promotion or relegation this year.

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Nondescripts drew the battle lines early by naming their game day squad for the Enterprise Cup semifinals against Black Pirates on Friday afternoon, 24 hours before the game.

The Nondies went past KOBs in Nakuru at the quarterfinal stage of the tournament, in a game whose result didn’t tell the full story. The KOBs dominated all their set pieces and enjoyed an 88% retention rate from their lineouts, thanks to Edrine Ssempebwa and Faragi Odugo.

What the Nondies lacked in territory and possession, they made up for by being clinical in the KOBs’ 22. It’s this killer instinct that the Pirates should be wary of this Saturday, as the Nondies scored 2 tries from 5 visits in the red zone.

While the KOBs were let down by their defence, the Pirates, on their hand, thrived and survived without the ball against KCB Rugby in the quarterfinal.

It is going to take the wheels of Tonny Fidens and the wits of scrumhalf Ian Mumbwani to break down that resolute Pirates defence, if the Nondies are to score some fancy tries or points off the boot.

In the forwards, the Nondies have some big units, as evidenced in their captain’s run at Kings Park on Friday.

The battle of the setpiece is going to be key this Saturday, as the Pirates have gotten comfortable at their scrums and lineouts.

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The Lions Cup, arguably the most competitive and longest-running rivalry in Ugandan rugby, returns this weekend against a backdrop of defeats for the KOBs and Heathens in the Enterprise Cup.

While the other eight league teams were resting, KOBs and Heathens were two of the four teams representing Uganda in the Enterprise Cup quarterfinals against Kenyan sides.

For most Ugandan fans, the KOBs were the favourites to advance to the semifinals as the only Ugandan side, but they were defeated by the Nondies in Nakuru.

The Heathens fielded a largely inexperienced side against Kabras Sugar RFC, and the scoreboard after the 80 minutes accurately reflected the proceedings of the day.

One could argue that both sides were saving their best for this not-so-little dance, and now it’s time for business.

In the recent past, the Heathens have gotten the better of the KOBs in this fixture, with the most infamous of these coming in 2023, where the Heathens won home and away. In both games, the KOBs were disgruntled by the officiation, but it was in that return leg at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds where they reached the tipping point.

The following season, after the Premiership took on a championship format, the two sides played out a mouth-watering semifinal where they each won a leg, but were separated by points for the Heathens to advance to the final and win the league.

Last season, the Lions Cup was a wet and feisty affair that ended in a tie at Kyadondo. The KOBs went into the game as favourites, but did everything possible in their power not to win the game. Poor decision-making in prime attacking areas cost the KOBs, who could have easily gone home with the win.

The then KOBs head coach, Timothy Mudoola, reflected on this after the game, saying, “A lot of decision-making was done wrong,” a vice that shouldn’t reappear this Saturday if the KOBs are to put up a great performance.

In the Heathens forwards pack are two players who know the KOBs all too well. Julius Opio and Jude Jjuuko signed for the yellow machine this season and shall be going back to a place they once called home.

On the other end, the veteran Scott Oluoch will be there to welcome back his former side to Naguru, with the hopes of upsetting his former employers. 

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