The 2025 Uganda Rugby Premiership regular season has concluded, and the top eight teams are set to battle for the championship. The playoffs begin on Friday, April 4, and will run for five weeks until the final showdown.
Playoff Format
The playoffs will follow a knockout format, starting from the quarterfinals, then the semifinals, and culminating in the final. Both the quarterfinals and semifinals will be played over two legs, while the final will be a one-off match.
Quarterfinal Fixtures (Home & Away):
- QF1: Platinum Credit Heathens vs. Victoria Sharks – Friday, April 4, 4:30 PM at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds
- QF2: Stanbic Black Pirates vs. Walukuba Barbarians – Saturday, April 12, 3:00 PM at Kings Park
- QF3: KCB KOBs vs. Toyota Buffaloes – Saturday, April 5, 4:00 PM at Kyadondo Rugby Grounds
- QF4: Jinja Hippos vs. Rhinos – Saturday, April 5, 3:00 PM at Legends
Semifinal Fixtures (Home & Away):
- SF1: Winner QF1 vs. Winner QF2
- SF2: Winner QF3 vs. Winner QF4
Final (One-off Match):
- Winner SF1 vs. Winner SF2
If a match ends in a tie, the winner will be determined using a five-step tie-breaker: extra time, number of tries, disciplinary record, place kicks, and finally, a coin toss.
Team Insights & Coach Comments
Stanbic Black Pirates (1st Place – 49 Points)
- Won 10, Lost 1, Best attack and defense in the league.
- Coach Marvin Odongo: “Our focus is on the next game—it’s the most important one.”
KCB KOBs (2nd Place – 44 Points)
- Won 9, Lost 1, Strong leadership has revived their dominance.
- Coach Timothy Mudoola: “We need to capitalize on our scoring opportunities in the opponent’s red zone.”
Jinja Hippos (3rd Place – 40 Points)
- Known for their powerful scrums and home dominance.
- Coach Edmond Quaresma: “Discipline in high-pressure situations will be key for us.”
Platinum Credit Heathens (4th Place – 37 Points)
- A difficult season but still a title contender.
- Coach Mohammed Athiyo: “We’ve worked on our weaknesses and are ready for the playoffs.”
Victoria Sharks (5th Place – 30 Points)
- Depend on loan players, some of whom are ineligible for the playoffs.
- Coach Kevin Makmot: “We are planning to win and move forward.”
Rhinos (6th Place – 29 Points)
- Strong start, but injuries and national team call-ups affected consistency.
- Coach Martial Tchumkam: “We need to match Hippos’ strength in the pack.”
Toyota Buffaloes (7th Place – 27 Points)
- Rely heavily on captain Liam Walker’s kicking ability.
- Coach Charles Onen: “Precision and consistency will be our keys to victory.”
Walukuba Barbarians (8th Place – 26 Points)
- An unpredictable team with fast, aggressive play.
- Coach Leonard Lubambula: “We aim to reach the semifinals no matter what.”
With the top eight teams prepared for battle, the 2025 Uganda Rugby Premiership Playoffs promise excitement, drama, and high-quality rugby.
