Idia College and Iyekobga Grammar School were the start performers of the 3rd edition of the Ehibam Schools Rugby Tournament held at the Edo Boys High School in Benin City on Thursday December 1, 2022. The participating schools include Edo Boys High School, Iyekogba Secondary School, Asoro Grammar School and Ihogbe Secondary School in the boys category, while Idia College, 2. Emotan College, 3. St Maria Gorethi, 4. Adesuwa Grammer School featured in the girls event. Iyekogba Grammar School emerged champions of the Boys with 9Points in a round robin format of the Rugby Tournament. Host Edo Boys High School came second with 6 Points while ASORO Grammar School came third with 1 point as they drew one game and lost in two games. Iyogbe Secondary School came forth with 1 point as well, but with less game point. Master Daniel Ehijeme of Iyekogba Grammer School won the clattering Highest Try Scorer Award with 3 Trys, while Master Prosper Imonidhe of Iyogbe College Junior won the Most Valuable Player Award.
In the girls category defending champions Idia College retained the trophy with 9 Points by defeating the other three teams, whilst Emotan College recorded 6 Points in two wins to come second in the girls category. In third position is new comers ST Maria Goretti with 1 Point whilst another new comer ADESUWA Grammer School came forth with 1 Point being a drew and two losses. Ms. Becky Okitipi scored 6 brilliant Trys to emerge the Highest Try Scorer of the Girls tourney whilst Gift Uduku Uduku of Emotan College was adjudged as the girl’s Most Valuable Player. Meanwhile Ms Okitipi also won the Tournament’s overall MVP with a surprise special award by a National Team Player Mr. Monday Alex. According to the organiser of the event Mr Ntiense Williams popularly called “Mr Rugby” in Nigeria “I was so delighted to see the type of energy and spirit exhibited at this year’s Tournament. These students have a very good understanding and judgement of the beautiful game of Rugby! “These are future players for the upcoming Youth Games which Edo State Rugby Girls Team is a two time Gold Medalist.” The initiator of the programme and a representative of the Late Ehisieme Alonge Foundation, Pastor Modupeola Irele said in a message: “We are once again very happy to be back for the Ehibam’s 3rd Schools Rugby Tournament in 2022. It 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. “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. “We seriously look forward to the 4th edition next year with more pomp and pageantry with the prospect of more sponsorship and most likely making it a national championship in the nearest future.”
He thanked the Edo State Sports Commission for endorsing the programme and encouraging rugby in the State and also the sponsors Ehibam Griefshare Foundation.
