Pirates crush Rhinos to emerge title favourites as rugby playoffs take shape

The Nile Special Rugby Premiership concluded its regular season on Saturday with Pirates cementing their title credentials through a dominant 49-10 victory over Rhinos at Kings Park.

The commanding performance establishes them as clear favorites heading into the quarterfinal playoffs.

Joining them in the postseason will be KOBs, who secured second place on the table after edging Rhinos 23-24 in a tightly contested match. The playoff picture was completed by Heathens, who delivered a clinical performance to defeat Eagles and claim fourth position, setting up a quarterfinal clash against Victoria Sharks.

"We've reached the business end of the season where every mistake counts," said Heathens captain Norbert Okeny. "We're focused on building momentum and entering the playoffs strongly."

The defending champions have struggled to replicate last season's form, requiring a strong finish to secure fourth place. Their narrow one-point victory over Sharks in the regular season suggests a potentially tight quarterfinal encounter.

At the other end of the table, Eagles face a battle for survival after a challenging season marked by personal tragedy and on-field struggles. They'll be joined in the relegation playoffs by Mongers and Elgon Wolves, with all three teams fighting to maintain their top-flight status.

Nile Special Rugby Premiership

Results

Rhinos 10 Pirates 49

Walukuba 13 Victoria 18

Heathens 57  Eagles 9

Buffaloes 55 Elgon Wolves 3

Mongers 28 Warriors 29

Hippos 23 KOBs 24