In a spectacular display of host team dominance, the Stanbic Pirates Rugby Club and their sister team, the Black Pearls, achieved a magnificent double victory at the 2025 Rujumba Sevens, both lifting the trophies on their home ground at King Park Arena, Bweyogere.

The weekend of August 30th and 31st was a story of two teams on parallel paths of triumph, a testament to the club’s profound depth and commitment to rugby excellence across both the men’s and women’s games.

The Pirates’ men’s team carved their way to the final with a mix of sheer dominance and hardened resilience. After a powerful start on Day One that saw them defeat the Elgon Wolves 26-5 and the Jaguars 50-0, they faced their true test on Sunday, day 2 of the tournament.

A classic, nail-biting quarterfinal against the Heathens ended 22-17, a victory built on pure determination. They carried that momentum into a strong 24-10 semifinal win against the Jinja Hippos, securing their place in the championship decider.

There, they faced the Walukuba Barbarians in a final that captivated the crowd. In a physically punishing and tightly contested battle, the Pirates’ composure under extreme pressure was the difference, holding firm for a nail-biting 12-10 victory that sent their fans into a frenzy.

But the Pirates were not celebrating alone. Their sister team, the Black Pearls, was authoring its own story of glory. Their journey to the women’s title was a masterclass in perseverance and growth. They stumbled initially, dropping a close 12-17 match to the Thunderbirds. However, they responded with character, clawing out a hard-fought 14-12 win over Nile Rapids and building momentum with a 21-07 victory against the Panthers.

Their championship tenacity was truly forged in the semifinal, a tense 15-10 rematch against the formidable Walukuba Titans. Powered by tries from Lydia Namabiro (2) and Racheal Mufuwa(1), the Pearls fought their way into the final. There, they found themselves facing their opening-day foes, the Thunderbirds, once more. In a stunning reversal, the Black Pearls turned the tables, securing a heroic 15-10 win to claim the championship and complete a remarkable comeback journey.

As the sun set on King Park Arena, the scale of the achievement was embodied in a single, powerful image: Pirates captain Kamiza Jones and Black Pearls captain Charlotte Mudoola meeting at the pitch. They sealed their club’s historic double not with a formal handshake, but with a glorious, triumphant fist bump, a symbol of shared struggle, mutual respect, and a united victory that will be remembered in the club’s history. The hosts did not just compete; they had conquered.

See results from all matches below;

https://sheet.zohopublic.com/sheet/open/tr7hda741781055c942bfad586507d6035a91?sheetid=0&range=I96

Match tournament Images

https://www.playbook.com/s/nile-special-uganda-7s-series/eNhDqV9RYujsE4iZomJRLyxt

Photocredit Nyerere Julius Joshua | Uganda Rugby Union