Lugogo — MTN Heathens will launch their bid of ensuring that the coveted Hima-Makerere 10s at Kyadondo RFC on November 8-9 stays home with a new -look side, according to team manager Roger Sebina.

The record Sevens rugby champions will be without man-mountain Mathias Ochwo due to an injury while inspirational Robert Sseguya could be rested as they try to win the coveted trophy and the Shs3.5 top cash prize. "Ochwo is certainly out but we shall conduct further checks on all the other players who featured (for the Rugby Cranes) in Tunisia," Sebina told Daily Monitor yesterday.

Captain Brian Kikawa, Michael Wokorach, Jonathan Onen, Ochwo and Sseguya represented Uganda in its failed attempt to qualify for the 2009 Sevens Rugby World Cup (RWC) scheduled for Dubai in early March.

Sebina revealed that they will take nothing for granted in a relatively easy draw where they will face their own junior side Buffaloes, Cente Rhinos and Kenya's Mean Machine in Pool B. "It looks like we are favourites to win our pool but tournaments are not played like that. I expect every team to play with purpose so we must also bring on our 'A' game," cautioned Sebina.

12 rugby club teams from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Rwanda will tussle it out in the two-day showpiece which was won Kenya's Mwamba RFC last year. In a related development, the 16th edition of the biggest regional club rugby tourney attracted further sponsorship with Nile Breweries contributing Shs5m in cash.