National 7s Core Status qualifiers set for Saturday

After the recently concluded National 7s Series, the Elgon Wolves and Gulu City Falcons were relegated, creating room for two men’s sides to gain promotion.

To decide the teams to be promoted, the Uganda Rugby Union, through the regional unions, organised qualifiers in the North, West, East and Central, from which the top two teams qualified to play in the National 7s core status tournament.

For the second consecutive year, this tournament will be held at the Ruga Ruga Sports Facility in Busukuma, Gayaza, on Saturday, October 4.

Eight men’s teams, playing in two groups of 4 teams each, shall qualify directly to the semifinal stage, while 4 women’s teams shall play in a round robin format. The two finalists in the men’s category shall gain promotion, with the winner taking home bragging rights, while only the leader in the women’s group shall qualify.

Two-time Eastern Uganda champions, the Njeru Hurricanes, qualified once again and are joined by the Mbale Elephants, who tied with the Kakira Simbas, but edged them on points difference.

In the west, the KIU Crows qualified, to the dismay of the Mbarara Titans who felt unfairly ruled out after winning one of two circuits. The central region knew their representatives, the Victoria Sharks and Makerere Impis, early enough to accord them adequate time to prepare.

In the women’s category, last year’s losing finalists, the Ewes, are back to do one better, while the Kitgum Queens hope to regain promotion after being relegated and replaced by the high-flying Walukuba Titans.

Men’s Categories

Pool A

• Impis
• Njeru Hurricanes
• Kitgum Lions
• KIU Crows

Pool B

• Victoria Sharks 
• Mbale Elephants
• Lira Bulls
• Buddu Bear

Women’s Category

• Ewes
• Kigezi Queens 
• Kitgum Queens
• Mbale Eagles