Nile Special pumps millions into Rugby 7's

By Johnson Were

Prize money

Winner Sh2m

Runners-up Sh1m

THIS year’s Nile Special Fun Rugby 7s tournament on Good Friday will be played in two categories at the Dam Waters ground Jinja.

The organising committee chairman Edward Ochieng disclosed this in Bugolobi, Kampala where Nile Special injected sh50m into the tournament, marking an increase of sh20m from last year’s package. 

According to Ochieng, teams with players below the age of 18 will play in the shield event while the main 16 team teams will feature in the main cup.

“Our main target is to develop this tournament to the level of Kenya’s Safaricom 7s, but we can’t do that without encouraging young players to embrace the sevens format of rugby and that is why we came up with the shield category,” Ochieng explained.

This year’s edition will have three up-country sides from Lira, Gulu and Mbale competing in the main cup. Nile Breweries sponsorship manager Isaac Sekasi, before handing over a sh50m cheque to Ochieng, reaffirmed Nile Special’s commitment to promote rugby. 

Defending champions Kisumu, Athi River Stormers, Busia RFC, Kakamega Bulls, Dar es Salaam Leopards and Rwanda Hulks are the foreign teams that will showcase their skills against local franchise teams like Kiboko Squad and Migingo.