Akwa Ibom Rugby teams win Ibom Rugby Rumble

Akwa Ibom State Rugby Male and Female teams successfully hosted and won the maiden IBOM RUGBY RUMBLE which took place Wednesday, 2nd April 2025 from 12noon to 2:45pm at the Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ibiaku Itam II, Calabar Itu High Way, Itu Local Government Area in Akwa Ibom before the opening veremony of the 1st Niger Delta Sports Festival that took place at the Uyo township Stadium.

The Rugby event was planned to act as a demonstration event during the maiden edition of the festival since it was not a part of the 17 selected sports in the maiden Niger Delta Sports Festival.

The host Akwa Ibom State Rugby represented itself well by defeating the three other visiting neighbours of Abia, Imo & Rivers State Rugby teams respectively.

In the first match of the Male category of the Seven’s Rugby Tournament Akwa Ibom State Rugby Team defeated Rivers State by 17 points to 10 points in a highly contested opener.
They also went all out to beat Abia State Rugby Team by 15 points to 5 points in the last game of the Male which was played in a round robin format. Rivers State Rugby Team redeemed themselves in their second match when they also took their pound of flesh from their fellow Niger Delta counterpart ; the Abia State Rugby Team by a slim margin of 7points to 5points.

At the end of the Male event, the excited host team came first with 10 points for the two wins, whilst Rivers State Rugby Team came second 6 points from a win and a loss, whilst Abia Rugby team came third with 2 points for the their two losses.

In the Female category, the host came first with 10 points beating both Rivers and the Imo Rugby teams. Rivers State Rugby Team once again came 2nd with 6 points by defeating their neighbouring Imo Rugby team and losing to the host while t Imo Rugby Team came 3rd with 2 points having lost both matches in the tournament.

According to the organisers of the 1st IBOM RUGBY RUMBLE Obong Ntiense Williams popularly called “Mr Rugby” “We are so happy to be hosting this event coincidentally alongside the maiden edition of Niger Delta Sports Festival ongoing in Uyo the Akwa Ibom State Capital. The games were on Wednesday 2nd April 2025 at the Community Comprehensive Secondary School, from 12noon to 2:45 pm just before the most colourful opening ceremony of the festival at the Uyo Township Stadium.”

According to the Secretary of the Akwa Ibom Rugby Association, Mr. David Onyebuchi who is also the Camp Commandant of the Games “We in Akwa Ibom are so greatful for this opportunity to host the First Rugby Tournament in our beautiful State through the IBOM RUGBY RUMBLE event during the 1st Niger Delta Sports Festival.
“This event is a great moral boaster for the development of the beautiful game of Rugby in our promising State that is embracing Rugby in full force and are now running the Catch Them Young Schools Rugby Program.
“We are so proud of our son “Mr Rugby” Obong Ntiense Williams who has been there for us in this journey for the development of the game notwithstanding his allegiance to Edo State where he is based.

“Going forward, we will engage in more schools program as Mr.Rugby has also made a very appreciative pledge to host a Schools Rugby Tournament come this July for our teaming Children towards the National Youth Games which Rugby is a Medal winning event.

The Rugby Federation through its President Dr Ademola Are gave his backing for a job well done by the organisers and further encouraged them to do more for the beautiful game of Rugby which is fast rising again in the country especially in Niger Delta Region.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS

Teams
1. AKWA IBOM (MALE & FEMALE)
2. RIVERS (MALE & FEMALE)
3. ABIA (MALE)
4. IMO (FEMALE)

RESULTS

MALE
AKWA IBOM (15) Vs (10) RIVERS

FEMALE
RIVERS (17) Vs (7) IMO

MALE
ABIA (5) Vs (7) RIVERS

FEMALE MATCH
AKWA IBOM (12) Vs (5) RIVERS

MALE
AKWA IBOM (15) Vs (5) ABIA

FEMALE
IMO (5) Vs (20) AKWA IBOM

FINAL POSITIONS

MALE
1ST – AKWA IBOM (10 POINTS)
2ND – RIVERS (6 POINTS)
3RD – ABIA (2 POINTS)

FEMALE
1ST – AKWA IBOM (10 POINTS)
2ND – RIVERS (6 POINTS)
3RD – IMO (2 POINTS)