Granted, Platinum Credit Heathens vs Stanbic Black Pirates is a match worthy of all the headlines about the 2025 men’s Uganda Rugby Premiership semifinals.
It is a repeat of last year’s final, pitting the last two winning teams of any tournament in the country, and features the highest proportion of national team players.
But the other side of the knockout bracket, featuring Jinja Hippos and KCB KOBs, is an equally mouthwatering semifinal.
KOBs is one of the oldest rugby clubs in the country, having recently celebrated their diamond anniversary. On the other hand, ten-year-old Hippos is one of the new kids on the block.
The two finished the 2025 regular season in second and third place respectively, splitting the aforementioned semifinalists.
Until they met in the regular season, Hippos were unbeaten at home in two years and KOBs were undefeated on the road in nearly the same length of time. The former’s streak was ended by a late drop goal.
These are clear signs of how competitive and dominant both clubs are but also of how close they have come to each other.
Matter of fact, both Hippos and KOBs claim to have the “best scrum in the country” in never-ending rugby debates.
This semifinal will be one for the rugby purists. Those who, for their sins, still prefer the physicality of the scrum to fast-flowing rugby. Fans of modern rugby will not be left behind since both teams have individually-brilliant players who will showcase their skills in open space.
Hippos and KOBs will battle for a spot in the final and crucial bragging rights over two home and away legs.
Damwaters will host the first leg this Saturday, April 26, and the second round will be at Legends on Friday, May 2.
NBS Sport will broadcast both matches live from those respective venues.
