MBABANE – They did not just win; they stampeded their way to the title!
Malkerns Country Club was the setting for an electrifying day of rugby this past Saturday, as the MulaSport Eswatini Rugby Union (ERU) Senior 10s Knockout Tournament 2025 delivered thrills, bruising tackles and ultimate triumph for the Buffaloes.
The competition was made possible by a generous title sponsorship from MulaSport, who increased their commitment to E25 000 this year, an increase of E5 000 from 2024. The tournament successfully showcased the very best of Eswatini’s senior 10s talent.
This financial boost not only elevated the event’s prestige but also ensured that the competing clubs were handsomely rewarded for their efforts.
After a hard-fought day of knockout rugby, the Buffaloes emerged victorious, lifting the magnificent trophy, along with gold medals and a winner’s cheque for E4 000. Their dominant performance throughout the competition underlined why they remain one of the powerhouse sides in Eswatini rugby.
Hot on their heels were the Malkerns Knights, who battled valiantly to secure runners-up honours and took home E2 500 for their sterling performance, establishing themselves as a rapidly improving side.
Rounding out the podium in third place were the Mbabane Cheetahs. The Cheetahs claimed E1 500 for their efforts, a fitting reward for a side that displayed plenty of pace and determination.
The 2025 edition once again highlighted the growing strength and competitiveness of rugby in Eswatini, with MulaSport’s continued backing proving instrumental in raising standards and providing vital financial support to the sport.
ERU President, Bandile ‘Samba’ Vilakati, noted that the weekend tournament exhibited a significantly improved standard of play and exceeded expectations, something he credited to the clubs’ preparation for the event.
“No team was not competing for the grand prize, as seen on the score board in the semis that all games were a close contest with small margins separating the finalists,” remarked Vilakati. “Notable is the semi-final fixture between Mbabane Cheetahs and Malkerns Centre Knights, which had to be separated on a golden try after both teams were tied in the score.”
He added that Mliba Buffaloes coming first place was no surprise, as the team has shown intent from the beginning of the season. “Coming into the knockout games, they lead the Men’s Rugby League in pole position, and they showed exactly why over the weekend,” he added.
Vilakati further shared that the teams lived up to the expectations and magnitude of the tournament, which was well-sponsored and branded.
“A display of such a standard will always positively impact the quality of rugby athletes produced by teams and, in turn, yield positively on the ERU’s High Performance programme, which is utilised to build athletes for international participation,” he continued.
He concluded by stating that as they set their sights on 2026 activities, the weekend tournament has surely contributed immensely to the game time required by the players.
Mliba Buffaloes were crowned the MulaSport ERU Senior 10s Knockout Tournament 2025 champions on Saturday. (Courtesy pic)