National 7s: Heathens win Series title to end trophy drought

Heathens and Thunderbirds lift National 7s trophies Credit: John Philip Mugabi

Heathens RFC lifted the 2026 National 7s Series trophy, bringing an end to a two-year wait.

The Heathens last won a major title in their 2024 treble-winning season, thus ending a 713-day drought.

Poetically, the Heathens got back to winning ways by securing the 2026 National 7s title, which also happens to be the major trophy they last won on October 6, 2024.

This year’s accolade came after two semifinal finishes in the league and a silver medal in the 2025 Uganda Cup and National 7s.

The Kyadondo-based side got off to a false start at the Stone City 7s, finishing 4th despite naming arguably the strongest squad on paper.

At the Rujumba 7s, losing a club stalwart like Aaron Ofoyrwoth wasn’t enough to stop the Heathens, who ended up in second place.

For the rest of the Series, Heathens had to play without some of their key players like Norbert Okeny and Denis Etwau, who were called to the Rugby Cranes 7s team.

Despite the absence of the more experienced players, the young and new players stepped up for Heathens to manage another silver finish in their home Kyadondo 7s Stop. Players like Lawrence Ssebuliba and Innocent Thomas Gwokto were recalled into the fold, while marquee signings, Andrew Odhiambo and Gift Lukyamuzi, took over the reins.

At the Lawii Rwodi 7s in Gulu, Daniel Otema and Alphonse Openy stepped up to make sure that Heathens won their first National 7s Stop. This win cemented Heathens’ spot at the top, and the yellow machine held on despite faltering at the Kyabazinga 7s by finishing 4th.

With only one Stop left, all the Heathens had to do was make sure that they advanced from a tough Pool A that featured historical rivals, the KOBs, at the Kabaka Coronation 7s.

The eventual Stop winners initially lost to the KOBs in the Pool phase, but managed to pay back with interest in the semifinal, winning 22-00. By that point, the Heathens were already confirmed as National 7s overall winners, but they still yearned for some icing on the cake.

Heathens lift the Coronation 7s shield Credit: John Philip Mugabi

In the final, an Aaron Ofoyrwoth masterclass ensured that the Heathens had a comfortable 17-point lead at halftime. Despite the Walukuba Barbarians attempting a comeback by scoring a converted try, the Heathens’ lead was quite insurmountable, hence finishing as double winners at the Muteesa II Stadium, Wankulukuku.

Before the 2024 National 7s title, the Heathens had waited 11 years to win a 7s title, but had been very dominant in the 15s game. With the Uganda Cup up ahead, we wait and see if the winning form will continue.

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