Rugby

‘Bendel’ qualify for rugby event of National Youth Games

Published

3 years ago

December 10, 2021

Delta State male rugby team and Edo State female rugby teams have qualified from the South South Zonal elimination played in Asaba over the weekend in preparation for the National Youth Games coming up Ilorin early next month.

According to ‘Mr Rugby’ Obong Ntiense Williams, who coordinated the rugby qualifiers for the zone, “three states contested for the South South zonal elimination for Rugby 7’s event: namely Delta, Rivers and Edo State. Unfortunately Akwa Ibom State dropped their Rugby team on departure and Bayelsa couldn’t feature their U15’s this time around.”

Continuing, he said: “The teams played a round robin games in the male rugby 7’s event. Delta State won two matches against Rivers and Edo respectively, thus accumulating eight points.

“Edo State playing with only six players came second by winning a match against Rivers 3-0 and lost one to Delta 28 to 10 points, thus accumulated four points.

“Rivers came third after losing both matches, but had one bonus point when they lost to Edo within seven points.

The Female 7’s event had only two teams Edo and Delta registered as Rivers didn’t come with their Female Rugby team. Both team played two matches between themselves. They drew in the first match by 10 points a piece and Edo went on to defeat Delta in the Second Match by 17 points to 7 points.

After all the matches, Delta State won the Male Event and Edo State won the Female event and will both represent the Zone early next month for the main National Youth Games in Ilorin.

Meanwhile, the students of St Patrick School where the matches were played trooped out to catch a glimpse of this exciting and beautiful game. They ended up asking for a Coach and will be producing some of the next National Youth Game U15 Rugby Players for Delta State.

In other Zonal Qualifiers, Lagos State will be representing the South West Zone in both Male and Female events, while in the South East Zonal elimination that took place in Ebonyin State, Abia State Male and Anambra State Female teams have qualified to represent the Zone in Ilorin.

In the other Zonal Qualifiers in the North East, Bauchi State will be representing the zone with a Male Rugby Team, while, Kano State will represent the North West Zone in both the Male & Female events. Kwara State completes the North Central zonal representative.

According to Obong Ntiense Williams, “I am so happy that our hard work of introducing Rugby around the country is paying off because, for the first time, we have teams from all the six Geo-Political Zones being represented in the Rugby event.

“This is a product of inclusiveness in the mainstream of sports in Nigeria and a fall out from the just completed 20th National Sports Festival held in Edo State earlier this year, where Rugby returned as a scoring event, thus generating the much needed interest from the states which has resulted in positive Rugby development across the Country.”

The Rugby Federation will like to sincerely thank all the states that have featured Rugby at the respective Teams Sports Zonal Eliminations across the Nation over this weekend and look forward to seeing them all in Ilorin for the main event which will take place from 10 – 19 October 2021.

Rugby

Nigeria Rugby Federation Signs Multi -Year Partnership with Flovale Consulting

Published

2 months ago

June 29, 2024

Kunle Solaja

Ahead of the kickoff of the Africa Rugby Sevens tournament in Mauritius, the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) (www.NigeriaRugby.org) has taken a significant step in repositioning rugby in the country by signing a three-year partnership deal with Flovale Consulting.

The partnership will enable Flovale Consulting to create a dedicated channel and focus efforts on making rugby one of the most popular sports in Nigeria, while also promoting the development of both body and mind. This collaboration aims to lay a strong foundation for the future growth of Nigerian rugby.

“We are passionate about developing rugby as a government agency responsible for the promotion and development of the game in Nigeria,” said NRFF President Dr. Ademola Are. “This partnership will advance rugby in Nigeria through a unified plan that benefits all levels of the game, from community and professional rugby clubs to unions, regions, commercial partners, and fans. Everyone has a role to play.”

The partnership focuses on growing rugby participation, increasing fan engagement, and supporting players at all stages of their careers.

It reflects the NRFF’s ambitions for development and growth, addressing societal issues and values.

The collaboration will create development programs and age-appropriate training structures, ensuring junior players can develop their skills and passion for rugby in a fun and safe environment.

Volunteers and players will be actively supported to fully enjoy their time in the sport.

“We aim to help players reach their full potential and remain involved in rugby into adulthood, whether playing for unions or clubs. Delivering this strategy with our clubs, schools, partner organizations, and commercial partners will ensure that rugby in Nigeria continues to thrive,” said Opeoluwa Runsewe, CEO of Flovale.

Runsewe added, “As a corporate partner, Flovale Consulting is committed to driving growth and success both locally and globally. With careful planning and innovative strategies, this partnership is set to elevate rugby, foster financial stability, and achieve significant milestones.”

“We are excited about this partnership with Flovale. Collaborations such as this will foster the development of rugby in Nigeria,” concluded Dr. Ademola Are, NRFF President.

Rugby

All set for Edo State Schools Rugby Tournament

Published

10 months ago

November 20, 2023

Kunle Solaja

The fourth edition of the Edo State Schools Rugby Tournament is set to begin on Friday 1st December 2023 at the home of Rugby in Edo State.

According to Obong Ntiense Williams a head coach, Ehibam Griefshare Foundation will be hosting the tournament at Edo Boys High School, in Benin City from 10am – 4pm.

The Foundation has over the last five years partnered with the Edo State Rugby Association in the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament.

According to the initiator Pastor Dupe Irele, “We had a return to the field after the disruption caused by the Covid 19 pandemic in 2020, As such, to revive the program.

“The Ehibam Griefshare Foundation decided to help provide the basic Rugby Equipment (Rugby Balls) to kick start the program after the pandemic in 2021 and a subsequent tournament last year”.

Said She, “The Rugby Balls Presentation Ceremony was the Foundation’s way of reassuring the future of the program with its continued support and partnership in its activities going forward. The Ehibam Schools Rugby Program was launched in 2018 to encourage the sport of rugby among the young boys and girls from both primary and secondary schools in Edo State”.

Pastor Dupe continued, “The wind behind the sail of the foundation is Late Ehisieme Alonge who was an ardent Rugby Player in the United Kingdom who spent a lot of time nurturing the young children in the beautiful game of Rugby. To this end we look forward to the Ehibam Schools Rugby Invitational Tournament this year on the actual birthday of Late Ehisieme Alonge who passed on in the United Kingdom at the age of 35, on the 10th June 2015”.

The foundation, with the push of the Edo State Head Coach and workaholic Ntiense Williams popularly know as “Mr Rugby” and his hardworking team of Coaches will this year be organising an invitational 4 female and 4 male teams Championship.

We remain keen in our desire to work closely with the Rugby Association and by extension the Edo State Sports Commission in the development of Rugby as a sports for the social and physical promotion of the welfare of students in Edo State.

The vision of Ehibam Griefshare Foundation is to provide a helping hand to those in grief/mourning and help them to a “New Normal” life.

According to Dupe, “In his lifetime, Ehisieme was an ardent Rugby player and devoted his time to training children in the game. It is in fulfilment and continuation of this passion that the Foundation decided, at the persistence of Mr Ntense Williams “Mr Rugby” an ardent lover of the game, to partner with the Edo State Rugby Association in developing the game of Rugby in Schools”.

The Foundation is therefore proud to be associated with this project in memory of our son Ehisieme.

According the Organiser of the event Ntiense Williams, “This tournament has greatly assisted Edo State to be a National Champion in Youth Games Rugby events and in extension the Open Championship as well, like the recently completed National Women Sevens Rugby Tournament which Edo State Female Team won in grand style and made history as the only team to have played and won all games without conceding a defeat or any point against!”

Said he, “We will like to sincerely thank EHIBAM GRIEFSHARE Foundation for keeping faith with the development of School’s Rugby in Edo State. There will be two floating trophies for the winning teams of both boys & girls team. There will also be Medals for the best 3 teams in both boys & girls categories and there will be two prizes for the MVP and Highest Try Scorers to celebrate the occasion.”

PREVIOUS WINNERS

* Emotan College & Asoro / Correctional Staff School (LAUNCHING) – 2018

* Emotan College & Correctional Staff School – 2019

* COVID 19 PREVENTED THE TOURNAMENT in 2020

* REVIVED THE PROJECT WITH DONATION OF RUGBY BALLS – 2021

* Idia College & Iyekogba Grammer School – 2022

Here is wishing all of us a great injury free tournament.

Rugby

Africa Investment Forum welcomes Rugby Africa President to discuss the business of sport

Published

10 months ago

November 7, 2023

Kunle Solaja

The newly elected President of Rugby Africa, the continental governing body for rugby in Africa, Mr Herbert Mensah, will discuss the business of sport in a one-to-one fireside chat at the 2023 Africa Investment Forum (AIF) on Thursday, November 9 in Marrakech, Morocco.

The annual three-day Africa Investment Forum Market Days event will commence on Wednesday November 8 to Friday November 10 under the theme “Unlocking Africa’s Value Chain” in Marrakech, Morocco.

Championed by the African Development Bank and seven other founding partners (Africa50, Africa Finance Corporation, Afreximbank, Development Bank of Southern Africa, European Investment Bank, Islamic Development Bank and Trade and Development Bank), the Africa Investment Forum is Africa’s investment marketplace to accelerate transactions to close Africa’s investment gaps.

Founded in 2018, the Africa Investment Forum has mobilized nearly $143 billion in investment interest. The event brings together heads of state, business leaders, decision makers and investors to advance critical investment transactions to closure. Previous attendees include H.E Paul Kagame, President of the Republic of Rwanda, H.E Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, and H.E Nana Akufo-Addo, President of the Republic of Ghana.

The sports industry in Africa is experiencing rapid growth, with the potential to generate jobs, improve public health, foster social inclusion and drive economic growth. According to PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), the industry was valued at $7 billion in 2018 with an expected growth of $12 billion in 2027. Despite the potential, investment across Africa remains limited, with only 1% of startup financing directed towards the sport sector.

Rugby Africa President, Herbert Mensah, continues to emphasize the business potential of rugby across Africa. Since his election, President Mensah has called for a change of mindset from African governments and international organizations to increase investment in rugby across Africa. In June, President Mensah delivered a keynote speech on treating rugby as a lucrative business venture at the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa 2023 event in Marrakech, Morocco.

-insidethegames