The Federation of Lesotho Rugby (FLR) delivered a thrilling spectacle at the King’s Birthday 7s Rugby Tournament this past Saturday, during an event that was held at the LDF Airwing Grounds.
Sponsored by 207 Retail enterprises, the annual event brought together some of the top rugby clubs from across the country, further highlighting the sport’s steady growth in the Mountain Kingdom.
Defending champions Mabote Beavers once again proved their dominance, claiming gold in both the men’s and women’s divisions with commanding performances.
In the men’s final, the Beavers overwhelmed Liqhomane with a 28–5 victory, while the women’s side cruised to a 33–0 win over NUL Spears, securing back-to-back championships. The Beavers’ double triumph confirmed their growing reputation as Lesotho’s sevens rugby powerhouse.
In the men’s division, the Beavers clinched the golden status by coming first, followed by Liqhomane in second, who won silver, and Maseru Warriors in third with bronze.
Likewise, they also won gold in the women’s division, followed by NUL Spears with silver, andLiqhomane with bronze.
The tournament also celebrated individual excellence. Mabote Beavers’ rising star Sekhola Phate was named Men’s Top Try Scorer, earning a M500 cash prize. In the women’s category, teammate Kefuoe Mphasa received the same honour and reward for her outstanding performance.
Participating clubs from the Econet Rugby League included Liqhomane, Lesotho Rugby Academy, NUL Spears, Mabita Gorillas, Maseru Warriors, and Mazenod Swallows, demonstrating the depth of talent emerging within Lesotho’s rugby scene.
Speaking after the final, Mabote Beavers’ Head Coach Letsielo Mabitle praised his players for their commitment and flawless execution.
“In both men’s and women’s categories, we won all our games. This shows the determination of the teams to defend our titles,” he said. “Now we must go back, work harder, and build an even stronger unit.”
Mabitle credited the team’s success to discipline and focus, and revealed plans for upcoming domestic and international challenges. He also announced the upcoming 5-Star Memorial Tournament, which the Beavers will host in memory of players lost in a tragic road accident.
“The tournament will bring international clubs and local primary schools together. The goal is to unite youth from Mabote village through sport and steer them away from crime and drug abuse,” Mabitle added.
Meanwhile, Liqhomane’s Head Coach Semethe Mosoeu acknowledged the Beavers’ superiority but pointed to preparation challenges his side faced.
“Due to work and geographical constraints, we didn’t get enough time to practice. Despite this, I am proud of the team. They gave it their all,” Mosoeu said.
Seabata Mahao is a general news reporter with special focus on Business and Sports. Started working at Newsday in 2021. Working in a team with a shared goal is what I enjoy most and that gives me the motivation to work under any environment leading to growth.
