Buffaloes win Thousand Hills Rugby Seven Festival

Sunday Thousand Hills 0-5 Remera Buffaloes The Remera Buffaloes held onto a narrow one try lead to steal the trophy from hosts Thousand Hills in a well attended first ever edition of the Thousand Hills Rugby Seven Festival at the Centre de Jeunes in Gatenga. After a scoreless first half in which no side threatened the other, Buffalos were the lucky side in the second half with Jean Paul Hajali picking a loose ball and racing to the try area after Thousand Hillss Diego Dusenge lost possession in a tackle. Thousand Hills mounted a siege but the Buffaloes held firm. The tournament attracted 10 teams including Kigali Sharks , Muhanga, Resilience, Kamonyi Pumas, Lion de Fer, Remera Buffaloes, UR – Grizzlies , Goma Okapi (DRC) , Thousand Hills A and B. Remera Buffaloes and Thousand Hills made it to the finals after seeing off Kigali Sharks 21:7 Lion de Fer 28:0 respectively in the semis. Speaking after the game Buffalos Captain, Vincent Kamali said it was sweet revenge against the hosts, who defeated then in the Genocide Memorial Sevens Tourney, “We didnt have most of our players at that time so today we had to restore our status as the national rugby league reigning champions. They are the hosts and they have young and first players, but we had to do everything. Jimmy Adams Mugabo, the Thousand Hills coach attributed the loss to having a short rest period as they played in the second semi-final. “The boys played well from the first minute of the tournament to the last. Having little rest is not an excuse however, we just had the difference of one unconverted try and the game ended with us in offense, its just a few things the boys need to polish up.” He added however the event was a success and is a step in showing that rugby isnt a game of “ tackles and punches” but can bring people together. The winners took a trophy in rwf.100, 000 while the runners up took home rwf.50, 000, Jean de Dieu Hakizimana of Kigali Sharks was voted tournament MVP. editorial@newtimes.co.rw

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Buffaloes win Thousand Hills Rugby Seven Festival