Akwa Ibom State rugby men and women teams successfully hosted and won the maiden Ibom Rugby Rumble which took place on Wednesday 2nd April at the Community Comprehensive Secondary School, Ibiaku Itam II just before the opening ceremony of the 1st Niger Delta Sports Festival that took place at the Uyo Township Stadium.
The rugby event was planned as a demonstration event as it was not a part of the 17 selected sports in the festival.
The hosts defeated the three other visiting neighbours of Abia, Imo and Rivers states rugby teams.
In the first match of the men’s category of the Seven’s Rugby Tournament Akwa Ibom Team defeated Rivers State by 17 points to 10 POINTS in a highly contested opener. They also went all out to beat Abia by 15 points to 5 points in the last game of the men 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 the Abia State Rugby Team by a slim margin of 7points to 5points.
At the end of the men’s 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 & a loss, whilst Abia Rugby team came third with 2 points for the their two losses.
In the women category, Akwa Ibom also finished to 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 host Akwa. Whilst Imo Rugby Team came 3rd with 2 points haven lost both matches in the tournament.
According to the organisers 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 Iboom late 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 at the Uyo Township Stadium.” Meanwhile, Cricket takes over the venue from Thursday 3rd April 2025 as they are also involved at the Games as a demonstration event.
According to the Secretary of the AKWA IBOM STATE RUGBY ASSOCIATION Mr David Onyebuchi who is also the Camp Commandant of the host AKWA IBOM STATE Camp, “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)
Extrasportnigeria 
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