Uganda Cup Rugby
Pirates 24 KOBs 23
Heathens 22 Buffaloes 13
Women
Avengers 22 Nile Rapids 24
Panthers 5 She Wolves 10
The Uganda Cup Rugby final is set for a blockbuster rematch, with the Pirates earning another crack at the Platinum Credit Heathens after edging KOBs 24–23 in a nail-biting semifinal at Kings Park on Saturday.
Unlike their free-flowing displays earlier in the season, the Pirates were dragged into a gritty, bruising contest by a relentless KOBs outfit that refused to back down. While the hosts’ victory came by the slimmest of margins, the result mattered far more than the performance—especially for a side still haunted by the 2023 final they lost.
KOBs, who once again fell agonisingly short at the semifinal stage, pushed the Pirates to the brink with sustained pressure and superior intensity for long spells. But their inability to finish key moments proved costly, handing the Pirates a second consecutive final berth.
Across the city at Kyadondo, the Heathens marched into yet another Uganda Cup final with authority, putting away Toyota Buffaloes in a commanding display that emphasised their growing momentum. The defending champions have maintained a ruthless edge throughout the knockout stages, showing no dip in precision, discipline, or intensity.
The victories now tee up a high-stakes, emotionally charged showdown between the Pirates and Heathens—two giants on contrasting missions. For the Pirates, it’s a chance at long-awaited redemption. For the Heathens, it’s an opportunity to reinforce their dominance with back-to-back crowns.
All signs point to a final worthy of the rivalry: fierce, uncompromising, and potentially era-defining.
