On Saturday, June 14, 2025, Rubongi Army Secondary School (RASS) was crowned the winner of USSSA Ball Games 2 Tororo Rugby Girls’ competition, continuing their impressive form in the sport. This victory solidified their dominance in girls’ rugby within the district.
The day’s finals saw Great Aubrey Memorial College (GAMCO) emerge victorious in the boys’ category, defeating Mercy High School 12-06 in a hard-fought contest. In the girls’ final, RASS showcased a commanding performance, triumphing over Great Aubrey Memorial College with a resounding 26-00 scoreline. Akwede Christine of RASS was recognized for her outstanding play, being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the girls’ division.
RASS Retain USSSA Ball Games 2 Tororo Rugby Girls’ Trophy
Three schools participated in this year’s Tororo Rugby USSSA Ball Games 2 tournament. Notably, GAMCO had won the boys’ title last year, while RASS had claimed the girls’ title in the previous edition, highlighting a continuing rivalry and high level of competition between these two institutions. Both GAMCO and RASS have now qualified to represent Tororo District in the upcoming regional competition.
Jibu Water, a key partner in promoting rugby in Tororo, served as the main rehydration partner for the event, ensuring all participating teams received Jibu round bottles for drinking throughout the games. The event was graced by the presence of the Head teacher of RASS, the Chairperson of USSSA Tororo, and various school games teachers, underscoring the growing support for rugby in the district.
Looking ahead, Tororo District is set to host the highly anticipated USSSA Ball Games 2 Nationals from July 10th to 19th, with Tororo College and Tororo Girls acting as the host venues.
Tororo District’s Rugby Journey: From Inaugural 7s to Established Excellence
The recent success in the 2025 USSSA Ball Games 2 Tororo Rugby tournament builds upon the foundations laid by the Tororo District’s inaugural Rugby 7s competitions held on Saturday, June 22, 2024. While Rugby 7s, a faster-paced version of the sport played with seven players per team (compared to 13 or 15 in other formats), might still be new to some, its roots trace back to Melrose, Scotland, in 1883.
In 2024, despite over 60 schools in the district, only eight initially expressed interest in the Rugby 7s, with just three – Great Aubrey Memorial College (GAMCO), Mercy High School, and Rubongi Army Secondary School (RASS) – paying the participation fee and assembling at Elgon View Rugby Grounds for the historic first edition.
GAMCO won 2024 USSSA Ball Games 2 Tororo Rugby
The 2024 boys’ Rugby 7s matches saw close contests. Great Aubrey Memorial College (GAMCO) faced Mercy High School, with Mercy High scoring one try (equivalent to five points) and GAMCO none. Subsequently, RASS played Mercy High School, with RASS winning 10-5 (two tries to one). The final boys’ game saw GAMCO defeat RASS 10-0. With all three teams ending with one win and one loss, GAMCO was declared the winner based on a superior try difference.
In the 2024 girls’ Rugby 7s competitions, participation was lower, with only RASS and St. Benedict reporting for the showdown. RASS girls, determined to compensate for their boys’ performance, dominated the game, scoring 3 tries (15 points) to St. Benedict’s none, securing another trophy. This victory for RASS came hot on the heels of their Tororo District Netball competitions win on Thursday, June 20, 2024, making it a truly remarkable week for the school.