Platinum Credit Heathens have reclaimed the Uganda Rugby National 7s Series crown after an 11-year wait, triumphing in the 2024 Nile Special 7s Series.
Heathens, who the most successful club in National 7s history with 11 titles, had last won the championship in 2013, and their decade-long wait finally came to an end at Kings Park in Bweyogerere on Sunday.
Having fallen agonizingly short in the last two editions—losing to Black Pirates at Bugembe in 2023 and Jinja Hippos at Kyadondo in 2022, both times on Day Two in the final round—the Kyadondo-based side took control of their fate this year.
Coming into the ultimate circuit, the Rujumba 7s at Kings Park, Heathens knew reaching the Cup Final would be enough to secure the series title, and they did just that.
In the Cup Semifinal, Heathens defeated Walukuba Barbarians 33-05 to seal their place in the final and complete a season treble, having already won the Uganda Cup in January and the Nile Special Rugby Championship in June.
Malcolm Okello led the charge with two tries, while Norbert Okeny and Michael Wokorach also contributed to the scoreboard.
The final was an intense affair, as Heathens faced the hosts and series runners-up Black Pirates.
The two sides were evenly matched, and the game ended 12-12 in regulation time.
In sudden death, Pirates’ Conrad Wanyama delivered the decisive blow, scoring the winning try to clinch the Rujumba 7s 17-12, but it was Heathens who emerged as the overall series champions.
The Rugby National 7s triumph caps a remarkable year for Heathens, who have swept the 2023-24 Uganda Rugby season.
Their dominance across both XVs and 7s formats has been evident, with victories in the Uganda Cup, the Nile Special Rugby Championship, and now the National 7s Series.
