The provisional fixtures of the Nile Special Rugby League 2024 Season have been released with a couple of changes compared to the previous season.
With effect from the 2024 Season, the format for the Uganda Rugby Championship has changed and this will affect both the men and women’s leagues.
The number of teams for Men has been increased from Ten (10) to Twelve (12) and the games shall be a Single either Home or Away format. Previously the leagues were played in round robin format and two rounds.
Rams RFC that was previously supposed to be relegated, managed to stay in the top division with Kitante Eagles RFC and Warriors RFC joining it to create a Twelve (12) Team Competition.
The Women’s teams have been increased from four (4) to seven (7) with the Panthers RFC , Mbale She wolves RFC and Nile Rapids RFC being the new additions.
The top 8 Men’s teams at the end of the Regular Season will proceed to the Knock-Out Stages (quarter finals) and will play on a Home and Away basis (Round Robin).
At conclusion of the quarter finals, the winners will proceed to the semi-finals on a home and away basis.
The winners of the semi- finals will proceed to a one-off final to determine the Champion.
The bottom 4 Men’s teams will at the end of the regular season proceed to the relegation play-off stages and play according to rankings.
The relegation finals will be played on a home and away basis. The two (2) losers will be relegated.
In case of a draw after both legs in the playoffs/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 15 metre 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.
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 2024.
