The provisional fixtures of the 2024 Nile Special Rugby Premiership season have been released and a lot of changes have been cited.
With effect 2024 season, the format for the Championship has changed and this will be for both the men and women.
The number of teams for men has been increased from ten (10) to twelve (12) and the games shall be a single round robin format played either home or away.
Rams which was initially supposed to be relegated, managed to stay in the top division with Kampani Kitante Eagles and Warriors, joining to make it twelve (12) teams.
The Women’s teams have been increased from four (4) to seven (7) with Panthers, Mbale Shewolves and Nile Rapids being the new additions.
The top 8 senior teams at the end of the regular season will proceed to the knock-out stages and will play according to rankings with quarterfinals being played on a home and away basis.
At conclusion of the quarters, the winners will proceed to play the semi-finals as per the fixtures pathway and will be on a home and away basis.
The winners of the semi- finals in above will play in a one-off final to determine the Champion.
The bottom 4 senior teams at the end of the regular season will proceed to the relegation play-off stages and will play according to rankings with relegation finals being played home and away and the two (2) losers will be relegated.
In case of a draw after both legs in plaoffs/final (Tie Breaker)
Where at the end of the knockout matches i.e. quarter finals (over the two legs combined), Semi finals (over the two legs combined), relegation play off (over the two legs combined) or Championship finals and teams are tied on match points the winner will be determined in the following order
a) 30 minutes total of extra time i.e. 15 minutes each half with 5 minutes interval
b) The team with the most tries over the two legs or in the final
c) The team with the least disciplinary cards over the two legs or the final. For avoidance of doubt a red card equals two (2) yellow cards
d) Five place kicks per team along the along the 15metre line from touch in the side of kickers choice using 5 different kickers
e) If none of the above produces a result, then it will be resolved with a toss of a coin.
- Toyota Buffaloes
- Kampani Kitante Eagles
- Platinum Credit Heathens
- Jinja Hippos
- Impis
- KCB Kobs
- Plascon Mongers
- Lifeguard Rams
- Stanbic Black Pirates
- Rhinos
- Walukuba Barbarians
- Warriors
This format is used in many countries and Championships including Super Rugby, which is one of the best Rugby competitions around the world.
The new format will help improve the competition more so at the tail end of the season. Knowing that every match counts and brings you closer to the trophy makes players and teams work even harder both in training and on the pitch.
The new season is set to kick off on 3rd February and the Makerere Derby, between the Lifeguard Rams and Impis will be on the menu.
The Stanbic Black Pirates, who are the current champions will be kicking off their campaign with a trip to Kyadondo to face the PlatinumCredit Heathens who are fresh from winning the Uganda Cup.
Expected fixtures on opening day
- Heathens vs Pirates (Kyadondo)
- Eagles vs Walukuba Barbarians (Kitante)
- Mongers vs Buffaloes (Entebbe)
- Hippos vs Kobs ( Dam Waters)
- Rams vs Impis (Graveyard)
- Warriors vs Rhinos (Legends)
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