Event: Guinness 7s, Eastern Circuit
Date: 16th October 2021
Hosts: Soroti Rangers RFC
Venue: Soroti Stadium
For the first time ever, regional outfit Soroti Rangers RFC will host one of the circuits of the National Rugby Sevens Series when they welcome 11 other teams for the Eastern Circuit of the Guinness 7s slated for Saturday, 16th October at Soroti Stadium.
Soroti Rangers are seeded in Pool A alongside Kampala based sides Black Pirates, Impis and Warriors. The home side will seek to impress at their own backyard but they’re eager to savour the moment and are ready to welcome traveling teams to Soroti City.
“We have never been ready than now, we are ready,” Soroti Rangers Chairperson Paul Achoroi said in a pre circuit interview adding that; “we are actually doing final touches on everything we are doing.”
The event was initially set to be held at Soroti Sports Grounds but was shifted to Soroti Stadium for it’s easy to maintain Covid-19 SOPs there.
Rangers might not be the best team in the Eastern Circuit but the Soroti people are excited and expectant.
“People here are very expectant. We have been holding media campaigns and people are excited to see rugby being played at a higher level. This is the first time we are hosting bigger teams from across the country,” Achoroi added.
For Achoroi, the circuit means a lot for the players as they will be rubbing shoulders with the elites and will possibly pick a thing or two at the end of the day.
“I believe the event will also change people’s mindsets about the game. It will encourage them to undertake the game and also parents will be encouraged to allow their kids join the sport,” Achoroi noted.
After the Eastern Circuit, the series will take a one weekend break. After the break, the fourth circuit (Rujumba 7s) will be played in the weekend of 30th and 31st October at Kings Park, Bweyogerere. It will be hosted by Black Pirates.
In the Eastern Circuit, series leaders Kobs are seeded in Pool A alongside a tricky Jinja Hippos side. Mongers and Sailors are in the same group.
Kobs who have won the opening two legs lead the Series with 44 points, six ahead of Black Pirates who have finished as runners up in the past two events.
Pool C has Kyadondo Rugby Club based sides Heathens and Buffaloes. Rams are in the same group whilst Walukuba Barbarians who are the invited side to the circuit are also in the same group.
Guinness 7s Eastern Circuit Pools
A: Kobs, Jinja Hippos, Mongers & Sailors
B: Black Pirates, Warriors, Impis & Soroti Rangers
C: Heathens, Buffaloes, Rams & Walukuba Barbarians
Guinness 7s – 2021 schedule.
*1st Leg : 2nd & 3rd October. Warriors/Legends (Central Circuit). Winners: Kobs
*2nd Leg: 9th October. Gulu Elephants/Gulu grounds (Northern Circuit). Winners: Kobs
*3rd Leg: 16th October. Soroti. Rangers/ Soroti Stadium (Eastern Circuit)
*4th Leg: 30th&31st October. Black pirates/ King’s Park (Central Circuit)
*5th Leg: 6th November. Rams RFC/ Kabale Stadium (Western Circuit)
*6th Leg: 13th&14th November. BSO/Legends (Central Circuit).
