TodayThousand Hills vs Kamonyi Pumas 2pmLion de Fer vs Resilience 4pm

Rusizi-based Resilience RFC will throw everything they have at Lion de Fer in this year’s National Rugby League semi-final playoffs on Saturday afternoon at Gatenga Youth Centre grounds.

The new league entrants finished top of the Southern Province League and have already faced Lion de Fer twice in two sevens tournaments, and according their captain Donatien Ufitimfura, that experience will come in handy in today’s clash.

"We have played them twice before, so we know their strengths and flaws. To be honest, we didn’t know we would make it this far in our first season and we can still go all the way to the final,” said Ufitimfura.

While Resilience outclassed their Southern Province rivals, Lion de Fer will be hoping to exploit their limited pedigree.

The Lions captain, Yannick Sangwa says, "Rusizi don’t have much experience and we have a superior pack, which we will try to maximize for possession and attacking.”

In the other semi-final, Kigali League leaders and hosts Thousand Hills RFC take on Kamonyi Pumas, who finished second in the Southern Province League.

The hosts were runners up last year after losing 17-10 to the record 8-time league winners Remera Buffaloes, who have failed to reach the semi-final playoffs for the first time in the club’s history. The final will be played on September 24.

editorial@newtimes.co.rw