THE 2012/13 national rugby league will kick off on Saturday. It will feature six clubs, according to the Rwanda Rugby Federation’s technical director Jean Baptiste Itanzi.

"The league will kick off on Saturday and it will be played in two phases.

Kigali and Southern Provinces teams will play on a home and away format before the overall winner and runner-ups meet in the semifinals to decide the two finalists,” Itanzi told Times Sport yesterday,

Defending champions Remera Buffaloes are the anticipated favorurites to retain the title but will face tough challenge from the likes of UNR Grizzlies, Muhanga, and Puma from Kamonyi, Sharks and Lion de Fer. Simba and Tumba College pulled out of this year’s league.

The Remera Buffaloes have won six consecutive league titles and have also dominated the other tournaments like the 7s and 10s events and only lost the Muhanga 7s last year to the hosts. Buffaloes form the bulk of the national team, Silverbacks.