Landmark dawn for Schools Rugby with live broadcasts

Namilyango are reigning champs. PHOTOS BY EDDIE CHICCO

What you need to know:

Owor hailed Kratos Sports for “Taking the game to the next level,” during the launch on Thursday.

KAMPALA. Gone are the days when one had to leave the comfort of their homes on Sunday and travel to various school grounds to watch the prestigious Schools Rugby League.
Thanks to Kratos Sports, a sports media outlet, the games can be followed from wherever.

Thursday saw the Uganda Rugby Union (URU), Uganda Schools Rugby Association (USRA) and the sports network enter a five-year partnership estimated at Shs100m, with an option of contract extension. The deal will ensure a game is broadcast live every match day.
“Kratos is coming on board for Schools Rugby because we believe we need to identify our stars when they are just sprouting, rather than meet them when they are already made,” said Maurice Aliganyira, the CEO of Kratos Sports.

Six schools in two groups of three will feature in the 23rd edition that kicks off today as holders and 11-time champions Namilyango College host King’s College Budo in a repeat of last year’s final. It will be the first live broadcasted game in the history of schools rugby as Kratos begin business. For steady development of the game, schools compete in three categories namely U-15, U-17 and U-19.

URU president Andrew Owor and his USRA counterpart Valence Bizimana gladly welcomed the move and see it as a huge step in growing the game. “We are glad to have a new partner in Kratos. We have been toiling to stage this competition every year but with Kratos joining, it shows that we are actually growing,” said Bizimana.