Rugby Returns to Edo State Sports Festival
Rugby Players are celebrating the return of their beloved game to the Edo State Sports Festival which is coming up from 22nd to 30th of April 2025 at Benin City the Edo State Capital.
29 Sports met the final selection by the organizing committee of the 4th edition of the Edo State Sports Festival namely 1. Athletics ,2. Badminton ,3. Basketball , 4. Boxing, 5. Chess, 6. Cycling, 7. Gymnastics , 8. Handball , 9. Hockey, 10. Para Athletics , 11. Taekwondo, 12. Tennis , 13. Abula, 14. Ayo, 15. Volleyball , 16. Beach Volleyball , 17. Weightlifting , 18. Wrestling , 19. Deaf Athletics , 20. Karate, 21. Scrabble , 22. Swimming , 23. Dart, 24. Kung-fu, 25. Kickboxing, 26. Table Tennis, 27. Judo, 28. Football and 29. Rugby
According to Obong Ntiense Williams (MR RUGBY) Head Coach of Edo State Rugby Association, this is a welcome development for the growth of the Sports in the country as it will further encourage the sports in the State and in extension in the country.
Before now, Rugby was excluded based on the fact that it was not at the Bi-annual National Sports Festival coming up in May in Ogun State. This position was later changed to encourage the beautiful game of Rugby which Edo State has become a house hold name and the home of Rugby in Nigeria with the only dedicated Rugby Pitch in the country presently.
This was made possible with the hosting of the 2020 National Sports Festival which Rugby was a scoring event at the 20th edition in Edo State, after 10 years of its absence from the Kada Games in 2009 in Kaduna State.
Edo State boost of the best Female Rugby Players in the country and are presently the back-to-back defending Women Rugby Champions in both Senior & Junior categories respectively.
They are also the present Male & Female South South Zonal Champions going into the National Rugby League Finals coming up in April 2025.
The inclusion of Rugby at the 4th edition of the Edo State Sports Festival comes as a great relief to the players as they will be looking forward to something within the state even though they are still praying for a miracle for a last minute return of the beautiful game at the National Sports Festival and the forthcoming 1st Niger Delta Sports Festival coming up from 1st – 9th April 2025 in Akwa Ibom State.
Participation at Sports Festivals are the endearing benefits and encouragement that enhances the development of the Sports growth in the State and in Nigeria in particular.
It therefore beholds on the National Sports Commission to assist by encouraging the so called lesser sports such as Rugby which Nigerians are well suited for into the National Sports Festival going forward being an Olympics Sports.
