Rugby
Edo Female Rugby team made history at the 1st national women rugby tournament
The Edo State Female Rugby Team led by Head Coach Ntiense Williams popularly known as “Mr Rugby” made history over the weekend by winning the 1st National Women’s Rugby Tournament held at the Main Bowl of the Stephen Keshi Stadium in Asaba.
The tournament ran from Thursday 15 to Monday 17 July. The ‘Mr Rugby’ assembled team which was supported by assistants coaches Jeremiah Igbuwe and Emeka Matthew beat all comers at the championship to lift the trophy .
The championship was sponsored by the Delta State Government, and supported by an array of backers that included Buga Win Sports Betting Company, United Planet Media, SYDA and Africa Sports Connect.
It held under the auspices of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation headed by Dr Ademola Are.
The Team Edo who looked much smaller in size in comparison to other teams were compensated with their well drilled techniques, passion, poise and strength of character.
Like dynamite that they are, they took on every team that came their way and defeated them all from different regions of the country.
But what was more interesting was the fact that they did not just beat their opponents, but they also ensured that they played all their games without any opponent scoring a try or a point on their result.
Thus emerging as the first rugby female team to complete a tournament without conceding any try or points in history.
This feat was made possible in all weather which they played in and by all opponents who could only threaten but couldn’t go pass the fortified impenetrable defence wall of the team.
They all played as a unit, less complains on the pitch and serious concentration on their goal, which was to re-establish their supremacy from the last 2020 National Sports Festival where they also won the gold at home.
This time around, it was sweeter as it was in their arch rivals Delta’s home and in front of their aggressive crowd.
Team Edo was well coordinated by infield captain and playmaker Augusta Mene who also was the team kicker.
She ensured that the game flowed smoothly once in possession of the ball and marshalled an impenetrable defence line.
Diminutive attacking centre, Becky Oktikpi was a terror throughout the tournament with her thrilling evasive runs and precise tackles which earned her the MVP and the highest try scorer with 9 trys (Goals) and lifting the trophy and and getting awards.
The Benin City Babes scored 3 un-replied Trys by Becky Oktikpi, Precious Ukwuoma, and Chinaza Abbah, while Playmaker Augusta Mene got in a conversion to make the final score 17 points to nil. (Try = 5 points & conversion = 2 points)
According to the Head Coach Obong Ntiense Williams, “We are so grateful to God for this huge win and historic record setting achievement.
“It is a clear statement to the investment put into all sports in Edo State by the Government of Godwin Obaseki and his sports loving Deputy Governor Philip Shaibu who superintends over the sporting activities as a sportsman himself”.
Said he, “You will remember that Rugby last featured at the 2020 National Sports Festival being hosted by Edo State after a long lay off of 11 years.
“Furthermore, it specially got a waver for the Women Rugby Event which had suffered from the reduction of participating teams due to the COVID -19 pandemic, but was rescued by the action sports loving deputy governor”.
According to the Akwa Ibom State born Rugby Aficionado, “This win, clearly confirms to us of a holistic sports development of the Edo State Sports Commission led by Yusuf Ali.
The Awards
- MVP& Highest Try Scorer – Oktikpi Becky (Edo State)
- Most Promising Player – Godfirst Sampson (Lagos State)
- Highest Scoring Team– Edo 41 Vs Abia 0
- Highest Total Points of the Tournament= 151 Points tally.
- 27 Trys and 8 Conversions
- No Points Against! – This is a historic record.
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has re-elected Dr. Ademola Are as its President, reaffirming confidence in his leadership to drive a new phase of growth and inclusivity for the sport.
The new horsemen on the saddle
The Indoor Sports Hall of Package B at the MKO Abiola National Stadium, Abuja, buzzed with excitement as delegates, stakeholders, and supporters gathered for the NRFF elections — an event many described as a turning point for Nigerian rugby.
Proceedings began promptly at 9 a.m., and the election process ran smoothly under a cordial and transparent atmosphere. When the votes were tallied, Dr. Are was returned unopposed for another four-year term, drawing applause from delegates who hailed his steady leadership and commitment to development.
In his acceptance speech, the re-elected president expressed gratitude to past leaders and promised to focus on grassroots expansion, institutional partnerships, and stronger national competitions.
“This victory is not mine alone; it belongs to the entire rugby family,” Dr. Are said. “We will continue to work together to ensure that rugby claims its rightful place in Nigeria, Africa, and beyond.”
He described the new board as “a blend of experience, capacity, and passion,” pledging to build on recent progress in coaching and talent development.
“The next four years will be exciting. We’re taking rugby into the NUGA Games, regional leagues, and para-military competitions. With the support of the National Sports Commission, we’ll deepen grassroots growth and strengthen our national teams,” he added.
Iyorhe Grace emerged as Vice President after defeating Mrs. Chinonye Daphey Aliyu by 11 votes to one, while other board members were drawn from all six geopolitical zones, ensuring broad representation.
The elections, widely hailed as peaceful and transparent, ended with cheers and camaraderie — a reflection of the shared resolve to reposition rugby in Nigeria.
With a renewed mandate and an inclusive leadership team, Nigerian rugby appears set for a fresh chapter of stability, innovation, and nationwide growth.
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Brampton, Canada — Nigeria’s women’s Rugby League national team, the Green Falcons, soared into the final of the International Rugby League (IRL) World Series after a commanding 10–0 victory over Ireland at the Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Canada.
The victory, which came against the world’s eighth-ranked side, sealed Nigeria’s place in the final and marked another milestone for the fast-rising African champions, currently ranked 17th globally.
Fedelia Omoghan opened the scoring with a hard-fought try late in the first half, though Shondell Akhabue, playing from Australia, narrowly missed the conversion to leave the score at 4–0.
Despite Ireland’s dominance in possession during the second half, Nigeria’s defense held firm. The turning point came when captain Rachael Illya capitalized on a loose ball 65 yards out, sprinting past the Irish defense to score a stunning solo try. Akhabue made no mistake with her second conversion, extending Nigeria’s lead to 10–0 — a scoreline that stood till the final whistle.
An emotional Akhabue described the moment as deeply personal, reflecting on her mixed heritage and pride in representing Nigeria.
“It means so much to the nation itself. You could just tell by our reaction when that final whistle went,” she said. “I’m Australian-based and half Nigerian, but I didn’t realize how much it would mean until that moment. I just broke down in tears — it was overwhelming.”
Team captain Blessing Aladeyelu hailed the result as a defining achievement for Nigerian women’s rugby.
“There’s emotion everywhere — happiness, pain, fatigue, but victory makes it all worth it,” she said. “Beating Ireland is a big deal. They’ve been playing rugby league for decades, long before it was introduced in Nigeria. This win means everything.”
Aladeyelu also praised the unity of the team, which includes players from Australia, Canada, and the UK.
“It wasn’t hard for us to bond because we had one goal — to make Nigeria proud and put our country’s name on the rugby league map,” she added.
Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Rugby League Association, Ade Adebisi, lauded the team’s progress, describing the victory as a symbol of Nigeria’s growing presence in world rugby.
“We’ve just beaten a rugby nation with 30 to 50 years of experience over us,” Adebisi said. “Our ladies have been playing for only about four years, yet look at what they’ve achieved. With more investment and opportunities, Nigeria can be known globally not just for football, but also for rugby.”
The Green Falcons will now face Fiji in the IRL World Series final after the Pacific side thrashed hosts Canada 48–0 in the second semi-final. However, Nigeria will be without key player Blessing Umude, who suffered an injury against Ireland and has been ruled out of the tournament.
The winner of the final will claim the last available spot for the 2026 International Rugby League Women’s World Cup, scheduled to be held in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Nigeria’s Green Falcons already hold the title of Middle East and Africa champions, and their latest triumph has further solidified their reputation as one of the fastest-emerging forces in women’s rugby league.
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Nigeria’s national women’s rugby league team, the Green Falcons, have landed in Canada ahead of their maiden appearance at the International Rugby League (IRL) Women’s World Series 2025. The 19-player squad, captained by Blessing Funmilayo Aladeyelu, touched down in Brampton on Sunday, marking a historic moment for Nigerian rugby.
The Green Falcons will open their campaign on Tuesday, October 21, when they take on Ireland at 3:30 p.m. (local time) at the Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton. Should they win, the Nigerians will face either Fiji or hosts Canada in the semi-final stage.
The final and third-place matches are scheduled for Sunday, October 26, also at Terry Fox Stadium. The championship game will feature the winners of the two opening fixtures.
Nigeria’s qualification for the global series came after their triumph as Middle East and Africa champions. The Falcons defeated Ghana home and away, and overcame Kenya with a win in Lagos and a draw in Nairobi to secure their spot at the global stage.
As part of their preparations, the Green Falcons held a three-week training camp at Alaro City International Rugby Pitch in Lagos, where they played two test matches against the Leopardess of Ghana. They impressed with back-to-back victories, winning the first game 40–0 and the second 24–8 on October 11, demonstrating strong form ahead of the World Series.
The squad features standout players including Success Iyoha, Ukwuoma Endurance, Shondell Akhabue, Innocent Adaeza, Adeola King, Rukayat Akinade, and Fedelia Omoghan, among others. Aminah Oluwabunmi has been listed as the team’s development/injury cover.
The IRL Women’s World Series in Canada represents a major milestone for Nigeria, showcasing the country’s growing presence in global rugby and marking the Green Falcons’ first-ever appearance at a world tournament.
Full Green Falcons Squad:
Success Iyoha; Blessing Funmilayo Aladeyelu (Captain); Ukwuoma Endurance; Umude Blessing; Shondell Akhabue; Innocent Adaeza; Adeola King; Rukayat Akinade; Fedelia Omoghan; Daneyelle Shobanjo; Siobhan Sheerin; Faustina Akeje; Becky Okitikpe; Catherine Akeje; Rachel Iliya; Chinaza Abbah; Vera Pedro; Lauretta Bayere; Abiola Obazuaye and Aminah Oluwabunmi.
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