By Johnson Were

Nationwide results

Sailors 0 Stallions 28

JUST as the referees are threatening to boycott officiating games because of the arrears the rugby governing body–URU is yet to pay, the first Nile Special rugby nationwide game between Sailors and Stallions at Legends Kampala Rugby Club flopped.

Sailors who are Pirates’ second side failed to raise the minimum required number of twelve players on a pitch for the game to start and referee Nelson Tusabe had no option but award a 28-0 walkover this afternoon.

Sailors claimed that there was no ambulance and for this the game could not start but the referee overruled them and insisted that medical doctors were available while vehicles parked at the pitchside could serve as evacuation vans.

Peter Basadhasolo, the referees’ secretary said that the Tusabe had to give a walkover because Sailors failed to make a team.

However, Basadhasolo expressed his disappointment with the referee renumeration by the rugby union.

“It’s unfortunate we were paid the first weekend and to date, there is nothing yet the union has a big debt to offset,” Basadhasolo stated.

“Yes we appreciate them increasing the pay. The centre referees now get sh100,000/= up from sh50,000/= last year and touch-judges sh50,000/= up from sh30,000/=, but the money doesn’t come in time,” he explained.