Edo Boys High School and Emotan College have been crowned the winners of the boys’ and girls’ categories of the inaugural Eyoto Schools Rugby Tournament held on Wednesday, 10th December at the grounds of Edo Boys High School, Adolor, Benin City. This achievement mirrors the success of both schools at the 4th edition of the Ehibam School Rugby Tournament in 2023.
The Rugby edition is the 3rd Sports that the Eyoto Sports Academy has selected for sponsorship in the 2025 edition. The other two are athletics and cycling. Cycling demonstration kicked off the Championship on Friday, 5th December at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City, followed by the Athletics Championship, which has run consistently for the past 6 years.
The Athletics events, which took place at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium in Benin City on Monday, 8th and Tuesday, 9th December 2025, saw the discovery of talents for future National Youth Games, the upcoming Niger Delta Games and the main National Sports Festival podium for Edo State.
The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Aladin Enebulele, who was physically present to present prizes at the finals of the Athletics events, was excited by the talents discovered for Edo State through the sports academy. He helped present medals to the winners of the boys’ and girls’ 100m champions.
The victorious athletes were not only decorated with their medals but also went home with Cash prizes and various gift items, adding an extra layer of excitement and reward to their outstanding performances.
The following ten outstanding discovered athletes were selected and given scholarships, namely:
1. Ayogu Miracle – Nicowa Sec School
2. Joy Joshua – The Lord’s Own Inter School
3. Anayo Chisom – Oba Akenzua Sec School
4. Aigbe Promise – ldia College
5. Esther Anochie – Nicowa Sec School
6. Favour Stephen – Edokpolor College
7. Caleb Moses – The Lord’s Own
8. James Jomah – Nicowa Sec School
9. Divine Okolobuike – Benin Technical
10. Adibeli Sabastine – Asoro Grammar School
The One-day rugby tournament saw the first winners when the host Edo Boys High School pipped a well-drilled Technical College team in a thrilling final that went into extra time and got all spectators and the sponsors on the edge of their seats. Edo Boys eventually won by 10 points to 5 points to lift the giant prestigious Eyoto trophy for the first time in extra time.
In the Girls category. Emotan College defeated their perennial challenger and neighbours Idia College 10 points to nil to claim the 1st Eyoto Schools Rugby Girl giant trophy.
It was a huge celebration for the Edo Boys High School who benefited from being host and home of Rugby in Edo STATE, as the Principal of the Edo Boys Senior Secondary School Mrs. Christy Ebewele who coincidentally is an in-law to Nigeria’s sports legend “Juju Man” Late Brown Ebewele who brought the beautiful game of Rugby to Edo State through “Mr. Rugby” Ntiense Williams, and have since made Edo State the new home of Rugby in Nigeria.
Mrs Sabina Chikwere, the Executive Director at the Edo State Sports Commission, who also represented the Executive Chairman alongside the Eyoto Sports Academy President, Dr Felix Idahosa, Vice President Dr Festus Idahosa Erese, Secretary,y Dr Sunny Okundolor, Friday Enoye, the Treasurer, alongside the Chairman of the Edo State Rugby Association, Mr Anthony Chukwuemeka and his Vice, Mr Hope Nelson and many other guests, helped to present the medals, trophies and other gift items to the elated winners.
Edo Rugby said, “We would like to sincerely thank the Eyoto Sports Academy for including a team sport – Rugby to their sponsorship. This helps to breed young talents at an early age for the State Rugby teams, who are already national champions. We also sincerely thank the Executive Chairman of the Edo State Sports Commission, Hon. Desmond Aladin Enebulele and the entire management team for their full support and encouragement of the tournament and rugby in the state.”
The Organiser of the event Obong Ntiense Williams added, “This tournament will further assisted Edo State to continue to win at the National 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.”
INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Favour Sunday of Emotan College and Happiness John of Imaguero Girls College emerged as the Most Valuable Player, and Highest Try Scorer of the Tournament, whilst Okunbor Esohe Gift scooped the Best Kicker Award in the Girls category, respectively.
Emeka James of Edo Boys High School, Evans Akpeti of Uselu Secondary School and Paul Obakhaya also won the MVP, Highest Try Scorer and Best Kicker Awards in the Boys category.
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