Who can stop the Pirates?

Pirates and Black Pearls celebrate winning the Kitgum Sevens on Sunday /Nile Special image

RUGBY Who can stop the Pirates?

Ndyamuhaki J Emanzi 09:41 - 10.07.2023

Now on 44 points and enjoying the view from the top, the Pirates will go into their home circuit, the Rujumba Sevens, as overwhelming favourites for maximum points.

When Ivan Magomu said the Stanbic Black Pirates were in charge, he didn't lie, at least going by what is happening in Ugandan rugby currently.

That was after the Sea Robbers landed their second league title in May following victory over Kobs in the season finale at Legends.

Two months later, the Pirates are still in control of proceedings in Ugandan rugby and have already won two circuits in a row to start the Nile Special Sevens Series.

And who can stop them? At the moment, it is very hard to come up with an answer.

Marvin Odongo's charges have ticked all the boxes in the first two outings of the Sevens Series.

Having dispatched Kobs in the first final in Jinja, the Sea Robbers made light work of defending champions Jinja Hippos in Kitgum to make it two wins from two circuits.

The Bweyogerere-based side are easily the most solid team in the competition, and it looks impossible to stop them.

Timothy Kisiga, Alex Aturinda, William Nkore, Isaac Massa, Sydney Gongodyo, Mubarak Wandera, Conrad Wanyama and Arnold Atukunda are just some of the names, but the entire Pirates roster is scary for any opponent.

Arnold Atukunda's pace has proved a handful for defenders in the first two circuits /Nile Special image

Now on 44 points and enjoying the view from the top, the Pirates will go into their home circuit, the Rujumba Sevens, as overwhelming favourites for maximum points.

The only time the Sea Robbers have been tested was probably in that quarter-final clash with Impis Sunday morning in Kitgum.

The two sides were level 12-12 before Pirates won it with a Massa sudden death try to progress to the semis, where they brushed aside Heathens 24-07 before pummelling Hippos 24-00 in the final.

Kobs, who look like the closest challengers, lost in the final of the Stone City Sevens but were bundled out in the semis in Kitgum to settle for third place.

Adrian Kasito and the Kobs will need a lot of work to stop the Pirates /Nile Special image

Adrian Kasito and Joseph Aredo's return to the team was insufficient for the Blue Army to move a step forward.

Heathens, meanwhile, were clearly out of tools in Kitgum, with key players Michael Wokorach, Aaron Ofoyrwoth, Lawrence Sebuliba and Nobert Okeny out of action.

Will the Hippos rise to defend their crown after felling Kobs in the semis, only to be walloped in the final? Very unlikely!

The Sea Robbers are firmly in charge.