From a shaky start to Gulu glory, Heathens defeated Toyota Buffaloes 12-7 to win the Lawii Rwodi 7s and strengthen their National 7s title challenge.
Platinum Credit Heathens recovered from an uncertain opening to win the 2026 Lawii Rwodi 7s, defeating Toyota Buffaloes 12-7 in the men’s final at the Gulu University Grounds.
The Kyadondo-based club completed the two-day tournament unbeaten, recording five victories and one draw. Heathens scored 124 points, conceded 52 and collected the maximum 22 series points at the fourth stop of the Uganda Rugby 7s Series.
Their triumph also continued an unpredictable campaign in which four different teams, Walukuba Barbarians, Stanbic Black Pirates, Rams RFC and Heathens, have won the opening four men’s tournaments.
Heathens Overcome a Slow Start
Heathens began their Pool B campaign with a frustrating 14-14 draw against Jinja Hippos. They remained unconvincing in their second match but eventually squeezed past Plascon Mongers 24-19.
A tighter defensive performance followed against Walukuba Barbarians, with Heathens winning 14-7 to finish top of the pool with eight points.
Although they had not reached their attacking best, the results kept them unbeaten and provided the platform for an emphatic second-day improvement.
Heathens’ Route to the Lawii Rwodi 7s Title
| Stage | Opponent | Result |
| Pool match | Jinja Hippos | 14-14 |
| Pool match | Plascon Mongers | 24-19 |
| Pool match | Walukuba Barbarians | 14-7 |
| Quarter-final | Kampani Eagles | 36-0 |
| Semi-final | Plascon Mongers | 24-5 |
| Final | Toyota Buffaloes | 12-7 |
Heathens demonstrated their championship credentials in the knockout rounds. They overwhelmed Kampani Eagles 36-0 in the quarter-finals before dispatching Mongers 24-5 in the semi-finals.
That set up a final against Buffaloes, who had eliminated defending champions Rams 21-0 in the quarter-finals and stunned Black Pirates 14-7 in the last four.
The final was decided by narrow margins, but Heathens’ experience, defensive discipline and ability to manage pressure carried them to a 12-7 victory. Their six-match record produced a tournament-leading points difference of plus 72.
Buffaloes and Mongers Complete the Podium
Buffaloes collected 19 series points after finishing second, while Mongers secured third place and 17 points by beating Black Pirates 14-7 in the bronze-medal match.
KCB Kobs finished fifth despite winning five of their six matches. Their only defeat was a 12-5 quarter-final loss to Mongers, illustrating the unforgiving nature of tournament rugby.
In the women’s competition, Nile Rapids defeated Thunderbirds 12-7 in the final. The Rapids won all five matches, scored 94 points and conceded only 24.
Brotherhood Defines the Gulu Tournament
Beyond the results, the Lawii Rwodi 7s highlighted the family connections running through Ugandan rugby.
Papa Ali made his senior Black Pirates debut while following the example of his elder brother, Haruna Muhammad. Heathens player Claude Otema competed in the same tournament as his brother Douglas Komakech of Black Pirates, placing family members on opposite sides of one of Uganda rugby’s strongest rivalries.
Arthur Opio of KCB Kobs and Arnold Ocen of Rhinos also represented different clubs. Another unusual connection involved Black Pirates player Paul Muwanguzi and his brother, referee Mark Ssemakula.
These relationships showed how rugby extends beyond club colours. As highlighted by NBS Sport’s Lawii Rwodi 7s feature, competition separated the brothers during matches, but their shared sporting heritage strengthened the tournament’s wider story.
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Verdict
Heathens’ Gulu victory was built on patience and improvement. They survived an imperfect opening day before producing their strongest rugby when elimination became possible.
The title restores momentum after their narrow defeat to Rams in the previous stop and confirms that experience remains one of their biggest advantages. More importantly, four champions in four tournaments leave the 2026 Uganda Rugby 7s Series wide open.
