Joy As Arua City’s Nile Leopards Rugby Club Shines In Just 4 Years

ARUA. Nile Leopards Rugby Club stands as a beacon of hope and opportunities for young people in West Nile.

Since its inception in 2021, the club has not only pioneered the introduction of Rugby to an area predominantly focused on other sports but has also made significant strides in empowering the girls and the boys.

For the Nile Leopardess (Lady’s team) and the Nile Leopard (Men’s team), it was not about waiting for decades to start getting results.

Just in four years since the game was introduced in the West Nile sub-region, Nile Leopards Rugby Club has taken a stride to start shining in the country.

This is after the Nile Leopardess team was crowned the overall winner of the Northern Uganda Rugby 7s Champion 2024 at Lango College grounds in Lira City on Saturday, August 31, 2024.

The Nile Leopardess finished second during the second circuit in Lira City after winning the first circuit in Arua on Saturday, August 17, 2024 that attracted three teams to compete for the trophy.

However, from the overall ranking that included table standing and points, the Nile Leopardess emerged the Champions of Northern Uganda Rugby 7s 2024.

Meanwhile the Men’s team finished number four out of the eight teams that participated in the tournament.

“Throughout these four years, we kept on seeing improvement in the boys and the girls. Since 2022 up to now, our boys always reach semi-finals and it is consistent. Yes, those other teams are stronger that is why we have never made it to the finals but I believe with more additions and improvements, we will be able to reach finals and one day, the boys will emerge the champions soon,” Denis Asiku, the Club President said.

While addressing journalists in Arua city on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, Asiku thanked the young girls for doing their best to put the name of the region and Arua City on the map of Uganda.

“We are proud because this is the first time that a regional trophy like this is coming to West Nile and Arua City for Rugby. This shouldn’t go unnoticed; everyone should notice this. If this was football, the whole world would know by now because football is already marketed out there, but you know, Rugby is like a new sport to people in Arua yet Rugby was introduced in Uganda at the same time with football in the early 1950s, only that globally, a lot of attention is being given to other sports,” Asiku said.

According to Asiku, the championship means that the Nile Leopardess team is going for playoffs with other regions from Eastern, Central and Western Uganda in order to qualify for the core league.

“So, that is the stage where the lady’s team is, but the date of the qualifiers hasn’t been given to us. We are currently training them seriously with the boys’ team and we believe something good will come out in the playoffs for the national core league,” Asiku remarked.

Rehima Anguparu, the Nile Leopardess team Captain, attributed the championship to teamwork, saying everybody worked hard to ensure that the trophy comes home.

Anguparu commended her team members including the managers and coaches for always working hard amidst challenges in order to succeed.

Olive Onyiru, one of the team players who doubles as the two-times National most valuable player Tier B (2021, 2023), expressed happiness upon lifting the trophy and promised to work hard for more.

“Actually, I feel so excited for winning the trophy because we have been putting more effort as a team since the covid 19 lockdown period. We have not been winning, we always finish the league at the 2nd position but after winning the trophy, we are excited and we are planning to win more,” Onyiru promised.

He noted that of late, they have been finishing at the semi-final level, adding that hopefully, they will win a trophy and medals like the girls have done in the near future