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It is not the first time Kobs are complaining about referees, and Luggya says they have engaged the Uganda Rugby Union about the same official in the past.
The management of Kobs wants the Nile Special Rugby Premier League second-round game with Platinum Credit Heathens replayed and officiated by a professional referee.
Club Chairman Tonny Stone Luggya revealed this in a live television interview Monday night.
“The management has written and requested for a rematch. It’s official,” Luggya said while appearing on NBS Sport.
“We put our papers in and will take stock of things after that. We still believe in processes and we want to have them listened to and not swept under the carpet,” he added.
Kobs felt hard done by centre referee Ronald Wutimber, who awarded Heathens a late penalty that would potentially win the game.
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11:12 - 02.04.2023
RUGBY Kobs do not expect Heathens win to stand
Kobs chairman Stone Luggya took to social media to suggest the team does not expect Saturday’s result to stand.
The two sides were tied at 12-all at the time, and the penalty, right in front of the posts, was the potential winner.
Kobs players protested the call and what they thought was unfair officiating before the Heathens cleared their lines to make a rare trip to the blue half.
Lengthy deliberations between the referee and players yielded no results, and when Kobs refused to retreat to allow Heathens to take the last kick of the game, Wutimber awarded the hosts a penalty try and ended the game.
“We think there should be…rugby should be the winner first and foremost. Let’s do that and the gentleman’s game is that way.
“We can only comment on the way forward if we know where we stand, but the mood in the camp is that people are asking themselves, what are we doing for the next five weeks? Why should we show up?”
It is not the first time Kobs are complaining about referees, and Luggya says they have engaged the Uganda Rugby Union about the same official in the past.
“As the centre referee, you should be able to explain. The players have no issue, the issue is the emotions were poorly managed and the tempo of the game was dampened by that.
“We are saying there are few refs, yes, but should we tolerate mediocrity because you are few?
“Can’t we have remedials and say every game that you do wrong, step down, come to the lower division, ref more games then you step up.”
Kobs were easily the better side on the day and camped in the Heathens half most of the game.
And while Heathens will take credit for their resolute defending that stopped the Blue Army from crossing the white chalk, Kobs feel there were several infringements ignored by Wutimber, even when his assistants gave a second opinion.
“Heathens played very well. They used the chances they had on the counterattack.
“Let us play on a fairground, have it played and re-done with a professional ref. The players are like; we don’t want to make it look like rugby games are being won because of refereeing decisions.”
Kobs went into the game one point ahead of Heathens and on top of the log.
But the penalty try awarded to the hosts confirmed a bonus point victory which took Heathens to 59 points, three ahead of Kobs, who only walked away with a losing bonus point.
For now, URU remains tight-lipped on the next course of action.
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