Nile Rapids, Walukuba Break Series Streak With Kyabazinga 7s Triumph

Until the Kyabazinga 7s, each stop on the 2025 Nile Special Uganda Rugby 7s Series had been won by a different team.

Thunderbirds and Walukuba Barbarians at Kabaka Coronation 7s, Avengers and Toyota Buffaloes at Gulu 7s, Nile Rapids & Platinum Credit Heathens at Plascon Entebbe 7s and finally, Stanbic Black Pirates & Black Pearls at Rujumba 7s.

This “four stops, four different champions” streak in both the men’s and women’s competitions ended this Sunday in the fifth stop.

Walukuba Barbarians and Nile Rapids clinched their second Cup Final victories at the fourth edition of the Kyabazinga Sevens.

Walukuba came from behind to beat Platinum Credit Heathens by 12-10 in the men’s final and Nile Rapids beat Thunderbirds by just 05-00 in the women’s.

For their triumphs, the two teams received the iconic Jinja Bridge inspired trophies alongside a UGX 4 million cash prize each from sponsors MTN MoMo and Nile Special.

Crucially for Walukuba, winning at home brought them twelve points ahead of rivals Buffaloes in the men’s overall series standings.

Nile Rapids have trimmed their deficit at the bottom of the women’s overall series standings from ten points to four.

She Wolves and Pirates completed the podium with bronze. The MVP awards went to She Wolves’ Habiba Namalembe and Heathens’ Julius Oyuk.

This is the final standing at the Kyabazinga 7s:

Women’s Final Ranking (Kyabazinga 7s)

1. Nile Rapids
2. Thunderbirds
3. She Wolves
4. Avengers
5. Walukuba Titans
6. Black Pearls
7. Mbale Eagles*
8. Bududa Dragons*

Men’s Final Ranking (Kyabazinga 7s)

1. Walukuba Barbarians
2. Heathens
3. Pirates
4. KOBs
5. Hippos
6. Buffaloes
7. Rams
8. Elgon Wolves
9. Rhinos
10. Mongers
11. Gulu City Falcons
12. Eagles
13. Busitema Boons*
14. Njeru Hurricanes*
15. Soroti Rangers*
16. Mbale Elephants*

*Non-core invitational teams from the Eastern region.

The series takes a break this week and will resume on September 20-21 with the Kabale 7s in Bunyonyi.