By Joseph Muhumuza

Copyright kawowo

The National 7s Series enter the sixth stop, with the Walukuba Barbarians tightening their grip on the championship.

While it now seems like a two horse race between Walukuba and the Buffaloes at the top, the Heathens and Pirates still stand a slight chance on paper.

For Heathens, they have to win the remaining 2 circuits, while praying Walukuba finishes at most in the 6th position, while the Buffaloes finish at most in 3rd, in both circuits. If this math doesn’t add up in the sporting sense for Heathens, then let us not talk about the Black Pirates.

The 12 point gap between first and second isn’t cushion enough for the Barbarians, and that is why the Kabale 7s are important for the all, but most especially the Buffaloes.

The West has become a fortress for the KOBs, who have won the Tooro 7s in 2022, 2023, then the Mbarara 7s in 2024.

Going back to Kabale, the KOBs are expected to have a say in the weekend’s proceedings, having finished in the final in 2021. The Pirates won that final, and have since improved in standings in this year’s National 7s series, from finishing out of the top 8, to winning the Rujumba 7s.

In the ladies category, the Thunderbirds and the Avengers have pulled clear from the rest of the pack with 96 and 90 points respectively.

Inconsistency has plagued the other four sides; the Nile Rapids have won 2 circuits so far, but failed to show their class at the Rujumba 7s, the She Wolves have failed to make the final despite being in multiple semifinals, the Walukuba Titans have been in a final but failed to make another, while the Black Pearls have won one circuit but underperformed in the other 4 circuits.

The Pirates return to Kabale as the circuit defending champions in the National 7s series, while the Barbarians have enjoyed success in invitational tournaments at the same venue.

Now we wait to see the first ladies side to claim the Kabale 7s title.