For the rugby fraternity in Uganda, Saturday was the day when the past and the future sat at the same table to have a conversation.
This was at the Mandela National Stadium, Namboole, where the vibrant community conversed and enjoyed rugby under the floodlights.
On one hand, looking at the future, the national schools rugby setup fielded two U20 men’s teams in an exhibition match as the union attempts to jumpstart the age-grade program.
This match saw youngsters from reserve clubs and local schools showcase their skills for a possible national team call-up in the near future.
On the other hand, revisiting the past, former Rugby Cranes and Lady Rugby Cranes internationals, veterans and their still-active senior colleagues played two matches against Tritons Rugby Franchise touring from the United Kingdom alongside former Kenya Rugby Lionesses.
The men played a rather underwhelming match, dominated by the younger and still-active rugby players. But the veterans and seniors picked a few moments where they rewound time to their youthful days of the 2000s.
Uganda Rugby Legends beat Tritons by 36-12 to stay unbeaten in this tour for the second successive year.
The women’s match was such an amazing and historic event.
First, because it was the first assembly of its kind of former Lady Rugby Cranes internationals to come together and play rugby. Most in the stands had not seen most on the pitch even touch a rugby ball yet they once won championships for Uganda in the early 2000s.
Secondly, it was played under floodlights; an experience Uganda hadn’t had for a while. It left rugby folk yearning for more during the competitive season.
Full Results of Matches on the 2025 Tritons Tour:
• U20 Men: Team Black 27-23 Team Red
• Men: Uganda Legends 36-12 Tritons
• Women: Uganda Legends 10-10 Tritons
In addition to the rugby, the Tritons enjoyed their second tour of Uganda — with some members reported to have trekked to see mountain gorillas in Bwindi and others tubing on the Nile river in Jinja.
