When the ‘Jinja Hippos Rugby Club vs Hippos Rugby Club’ leadership contest spilled onto the pitch, a section of players laid down their tools after their faction— Jinja Hippos of the Joshua Wakabi executive committee— was sidelined ahead of the 2025 Nile Special Uganda Rugby 7s Series.
Despite missing two stops in the series at Kyadondo and in Gulu, these players were not to be on the sidelines for long.
They made an appearance across the border in the Kenya 7s Circuit; featuring for a Rugaruga Select side during the Christie 7s from August 16-17 at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi.
Rugaruga Select is a franchise team assembled by the management of Rugaruga Sports Complex to celebrate the complex’s first anniversary. The complex is located in Busukuma, off Gayaza-Zirobwe Road.
In addition to the embattled players, the Rugaruga Select team for Christie 7s comprised other players from other Eastern Region clubs including Kakira Simbas and current series leaders Walukuba Barbarians.
Rugaruga Select team for 2025 Christie 7s
Players: 1 Tony Khadambi, 2 Brighton Bakasa, 3 Bright Mukisa, 4 Felix Oyet, 5 Abu Kaima, 6 Meddy Bagalana, 7 Aziz Bagalana, 8 Yasin Waiswa, 9 Bruno Kisule, 10 Jacob Ochen, 11 Maurice Kennedy, 12 Paul Siringiti, 13 Gift Wokorach.
Management: Tawfik Bagalana (Coach), Kevin Guchi (Team Manager).
Positive results were hard to come by during the tournament and Rugaruga Select ranked last out of the sixteen participating teams.
Rugaruga’s Results at the 2025 Christie 7s
Pool C matches [Day one]:
• Kabras Sugar 34-05 Rugaruga Select
• Menengai Oilers 26-07 Rugaruga Select
• Daystar Falcons 38-05 Rugaruga Select
Knockouts [Day Two]:
• Challenge Tophy QF: Mwamba 31-00 Rugaruga Select
• 13th Place SF: Zetech 31-17 Rugaruga Select
The Christie 7s men’s tournament was won by KCB Rugby who beat Rugaruga’s pool opponents Menengai Oilers by 19-05 in the Cup Final.
Rugaruga management revealed their ambition to feature in a second Kenya 7s Circuit tournament this year. They hope to be invited for the Dala 7s from September 13-14 in Kisumu City.
