2026 Week 7 Premiership: Playoff Permutations Commence

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Greetings. The Rugby Premiership goes into the traditional Easter Break with Buffaloes seated at the top of the log with 7 games played. Buffaloes touched down 8 times in a 50-08 win against Warriors. Pirates are in second after securing a 29-19 win against Victoria Sharks. Walukuba completed a Jinja sweep with a 24-18 win against Kakira Simbas. At Makerere Rugby Grounds, Impis returned to winning ways with a 23-08 win against Rhinos, thanks to 16 points from Darren Aine. In Entebbe, Nathan Tendai had 11 points off the boot as Mongers climbed back into the top four with a bonus point win against Hippos, 41-13. 

In the game of the week, KOBs defeated Heathens 37-15, to register a first win against their oldest rivals at Legends since 2011.

Oluoch, Odhiambo and Muwanguzi Go To Work

The origin of this particular theme has to do with the events surrounding Heathens second ruck in the first minutes of the game. After the tackle, Lawrence Sebuliba, the Heathens starting openside flanker, was closer to the tackle but did not make an effort to run and secure the breakdown. Instead it was Jude Juko, a hooker (although previously featuring as a flanker), who raced past Sebuliba to secure the breakdown. Traditionally, the loose forwards are the more mobile of the forwards, with an expectation on high performance around breakdown arrival and turnover generation.

Scott Oluoch faced off against his former team, the fourth former team he has faced in the 2026 Premiership (Week 1 vs Pirates, Week 4 vs Rhinos, Week 5 vs Impis and Week 7 vs Heathens). He formed part of the back-row trio with Andrew Odhiambo and Benjamin Muwanguzi. On the Heathens side the starting back row was composed of Vani Adebua, Lawrence Sebuliba and David Wako. 

In ruck involvements, at least one of the KOBs loose forwards was involved in 90% of their rucks compared to Heathens where they had at least 1 loose forward on 42.5% of their rucks. Andrew Odhiambo, playing 63 minutes at the openside flank, was involved in 15 rucks, arriving first on 11 occasions. The KOBs starting loose forwards were the first to arrive on 60% of the rucks they were involved in compared to 50% for the Heathens loose forwards. 

Heathens would concede 3 ruck penalties in the first half; one due to defensive pressure from Brian Wandera (at lock), and the other two on KOBs rucks involving Andrew Odhiambo.

When it came to carrying, David Wako put up 9 carries, having a gainline success on 7 occasions. Vani Adebua, despite putting up only 50 minutes, was involved in 10 rucks, arriving first on 6 occasions and making 3 carries. 

In terms of scoring, Benjamin Muwanguzi scored a try for KOBs, off an 8th man pick and carry from a KOBs scrum in the Heathens 22. Scott Oluoch, on his 3 carries in the Heathens 22, was held up and denied a try in the second half. 



Possession Origin Of Tries




Cranes Chronometer



Playoff Permutations

🌟With their fifth successive win of the season, Buffaloes moved to 29 points on the log and became the first team to make the playoffs. Hippos in 9th place could win each of their remaining games with a bonus point and only end up with 28 points.

🌟The top 4 from the last 2 seasons has consisted of Pirates, Heathens, KOBs and Hippos. Due to Hippos' dismal performance, Buffaloes and Mongers are front runners to break into the top 4. Buffaloes and Mongers face off in Week 8.

🌟Warriors have played in the relegation playoffs in each of the last 2 seasons, and look set to become the first team to play in three consecutive relegation playoffs. A team has been winless in the first 7 game weeks on 5 occasions since 2023:

  • 2023 Rams (lost 6 and drew once in first 7 games; went on to lose the remaining 11 games)
  • 2025 Elgon Wolves (lost all 7; went on to lose the remaining 4 regular season games, getting a first win in the relegation playoff second leg)
  • 2025 Warriors (lost all 7; got a first win in Week 9, the beginning of a 4-game winning streak and secured their Premiership place)
  • 2026 Warriors (lost all 7; season still ongoing)
  • 2026 Kakira Simbas (lost all 7; season still ongoing)

Chasing History

🌟The Easter break has traditionally been dedicated to fun rugby dating back to the early 2000s, with various iterations in Jinja (first held in 2006), Entebbe, Makerere and King's Park.

🌟King's Park will be hosting the annual Good Friday Touch Rugby Tournament. Last year's edition was won by Acholi Quarters Rugby Academy, coached by Sky Peter Ocol. Perennial participants (and rivals) Team Fat Cats and Team Bugy PR are still searching for their maiden Touch Rugby title. 

🌟But Premiership players should first rest from this touch rugby thing!



Ceteris. Paribus. 

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