Namilyango College grabs 2, Loses 1 trophy at Rugby Central schools finals

By Darlington Mabonga

Namilyango College was the ultimate favorites for another treble in the school’s rugby league 2025, when all three of their teams in the age grade categories qualified to play the finals against St. Mary's College Kisubi (SMACK) in the under 15 and 17 boys’ categories and Kings College Budo in the under 20 boys’ category at the finals at Makerere over the weekend.

The Namilyango college U15 boys team Stealthily tacked on the U15 boys’ category trophy with a win against SMACK, who had to concede defeat at the end of the highly contested match. 

Namilyango College easily snatched the U17 category with assists from the flying scorer, Mulungi Moses, who became the MVP of the U17 boys category.

For the U20 boys’ category, the Anchors, who were the East African schools' rugby champions in 2022, had an early lead in the first half when their structure was meticulously conducted and resulted in a successful try.

Players dis0play their won trophies

The defending champions of the 2024 schools premier League were surely headed for a back to back win unfortunately due to few errors made by the team in the second half like failing to take the kick able penalty points in the first half coupled with the muddy pitch after a heavy early morning rain downpour, the game took a sudden turn in favor of kings College Budo who made two quick tries that were successfully converted in the early minutes of second half giving them a favorable point lead advantage that unfortunately could not be bridged by the Anchors at the end of a tightly contested game. 

Having learned the hard lesson, the patron Ecimon Thomas remains very optimistic that in the next three weeks before the National Schools Rugby competitions at Bukedea, the team will improve on their ball handling techniques under wet conditions coupled with speed and accuracy like they did in the group stages by defeating the Lions 28-07 at their home grounds, they will surely emerge the victors in the forthcoming national competitions at Bukedea in 2025.

Nevertheless, the two out of three trophies bagged in this year's league were well received by the Head teacher of Namilyango College, Mr. Mpuuga Constantine, at the assembly grounds with admiration from all the students and staff for the accolades. 

Premier schools’ rugby finals results 2025.

U15

Namilyango College 14-11 SMACK

U17

Namilyango College 26-07 SMACK

U20

Namilyango college 17-29 Budo.