Hippos launch campaign to end impunity in rugby

Indian-born Canadian writer Rohinton Mistry once said, "flirting with madness was one thing; when the madness started flirting back, it was time to call the whole thing off.”

The local rugby scene has been flirting with madness, especially in officiating and a plethora of ills this season but that was spoken in silence.

Jinja Hippos seem to have picked Mistry’s lessons and launched a campaign to stop the madness in local rugby.

According to their spokesperson William Mwijuka, the club has started a campaign to promote sanity in the game.

“Hippos has launched a drive to promote the set of values and principles that prioritize sportsmanship, respect, and fairness above winning at all costs in rugby,” Mwijuka told Pulse Sports.

Fair Play

To push their agenda, the club will start the campaign officially with their home game against Plascon Mongers RFC in Jinja this weekend.

“Fair play rugby emphasizes the importance of good behaviour on and off the field, encouraging players to compete with honour and integrity and to avoid aggression, violence, and unsportsmanlike conduct.

“It also encourages coaches, officials, and spectators to promote these values and to support the development of young players who embody them,” Mwijuka adds.

The club has waived the entrance fees and will have a unique setup where the fans from both clubs sit and cheer together.

The fans and teams will also protest any poor officiating and call for fair play in cases the referees overlook.