Four years of absolute All Blacks dominance of world rugby was capped with the retention of the Rugby World Cup in a captivating 34-17 win over Australia at Twickenham on Saturday.
Rugby World Cup final win defines New Zealand as sporting giants
The best World Cup final, after the finest tournament, won by the greatest team.
South Africa beat Argentina 24-13.to finish third & pick the bronze at Rugby World Cup on Friday.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup started on Sat 18 September at Twickenham in England and was rounded up on Sat 31 October. A 45 days rugby world cup tourney featuring 48 matches amongst 20 nations of 4 pools of 5 teams in the group stage.
Major upsets were Japan’s historic defeat of the Springboks in the opening group match. Wales defeat and eventual elimination of host England & Argentina’s defeat of Ireland in the quarter final capped the wonderfully hosted tournament at the birth place of the game of Rugby Football Union.
Australia defeated Argentina by 29 points to 15 points in the second semi final match on Sun at the Millennium Stadium to join New Zealand who had earlier beaten South Africa by 20 points to 18 points in the first semi final match on Sat at Twickenham.
The grand finals for the coveted Webb Ellis Cup will be played on Sat 31 October at the home of rugby Twickenham between the defending and two time champions All Black against their arc rivals & also a two time champions the Wallabies.
It sure promises to be a great epic final match befitting of the beautiful game of Rugby.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup started on Sat 18 September at Twickenham in England to be rounded up this Sat 31 October. A 45 days rugby world cup tourney featuring 48 matches amongst 20 nations of 4 pools of 5 teams in the group stage.
Major upsets were Japan’s historic defeat of the Springboks in the opening group match. Wales defeat and eventual elimination of host England & Argentina’s defeat of Ireland in the quarter final capped the wonderfully hosted tournament at the birth place of the game of Rugby Football Union.
The Pumas came to the party when they surprised book makers with this hard fought victory in the first game on Sunday at the Millennium Stadium. The Argentines beat a high rising Ireland by 43 points to 20 points. Thereby showing great depth in their team.
Australia needed a Bernard Folley’s late penalty to edge out a well drilled Scottish team by 35 Points to 34 Points in the forth & final quarter final encounter on Sunday at Twickenham
Meanwhile, in the other earlier quarter final matches played on Saturday, South Africa narrowly defeated a hard fighting Wales by 23 points to 19 points in the first of the quarter Finals matches played at Twickenham.
New Zealand on the other hand mauled France by 62 points to 13 points at the Millennium Stadium in the second game on Saturday, this is unlike the predicted margin loss for France. This is the largest defeat between the two sides in any Rugby World Cup encounter.
The Springboks will now face the high flying All Blacks, whilst the Wallabies will lock horns with the Pumas in the Semi final games coming up over the weekend.
Pool matches were concluded yesterday Sun 11 Oct thereby separating the boys from the men in the 20 team 48 days competition.
The winners & runners up from each of the four Pools have qualify for the Quarter Finals & most importantly qualify for the next RWC coming up in Japan 2019! Hard luck for host England whose hopes was shattered by Wales and now have to go on a qualifiers!
Hear are results from the last matches played over the weekend:
In Pool B, Match 40
USA once again lost their final match in the RWC to Japan by 17 points to 8 points in the game played at
Kingsholm, Gloucester, Kick off was 20:00
In an earlier game of Pool D played at the Millennium Stadium, in Cardiff, at 16:45 Ireland defeated France by 29 points to 9 points
Other scores of the weekend were :
NZ 47:9 Tonga.
Samoa 33-36 Scotland, Australia 15:6 Wales. England 60:3 Uruguay
Meanwhile 8 countries namely South Africa, New Zealand, France, Wales, Scotland, Australia, Argentina, & Ireland, have qualified for the quarter finals of the converted Webb Ellis Rugby World Cup.
They will go on break till the weekend for the quater-final matches which will kick off with our South Africa going out against Wales at twikenham in England on Sat 17 Oct.
Singapore is the latest new venue for the World Rugby Sevens Series 2015-16 to be announced.
World Rugby
*Singapore joins 10-destination Series from 2015-16 cycle
*Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new host on record-breaking Series
*Rugby sevens experiencing record-growth in Olympic qualification year
Singapore is the latest major global city to join the exciting line-up of host destinations for the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16.
The new state-of-the-art national stadium will play host to the world’s top male sevens players ahead of the discipline’s Olympic Games debut at Rio 2016.
A major financial and tourism location, Singapore joins Vancouver, Sydney and Cape Town as a new location on the 10-stop Series within the next four-year cycle.
The announcement comes as rugby participation in Asia continues to grow with 445,000 men, women and children actively enjoying the sport, an increase of nearly one-third over four years.
World Rugby Chairman Bernard Lapasset said: “The World Rugby Sevens Series continues to go from strength to strength, proving a hit with fans, broadcasters and sponsors around the globe with its winning blend of compelling and competitive action, global destinations and festival atmosphere.
“As a major tourism and business destination, Singapore’s inclusion on the Series is great news for fans and great news for rugby as the sport continues to experience record growth ahead of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.”
World Rugby Chief Executive Brett Gosper added: “Asia has been at the heart of the rugby sevens success story and it is exciting to add another fantastic location and an incredible stadium to the stellar and expanded line-up of World Rugby Sevens Series host destinations from 2015-16.
L-R Jean Ng (STB, Director of Sports Division), Low Teo Ping, President(SRU), Toh Boon Yi Chief, Strategic Development and Marketing Group (SportSg) and Philippe Colin Delavaud CEO (Sportshub) at the press conference to announce Singapore as a new destination on the World Rugby Sevens Series from 2015-16. Photo: SINGAPOREMAVEN.COM
“I am sure Singapore, with its major event experience and passion, and superb new stadium, will become a fan and team favourite on the record-breaking World Rugby Sevens Series.”
Singapore’s inclusion follows a highly competitive tender process featuring 25 global locations with the successful Singapore Rugby Football Union and City of Singapore bid focusing on furthering the growth of rugby across Asia.
Singapore Rugby Union President Low Teo Ping said: “We truly believe that our event at the iconic national stadium has the potential to match the excitement surrounding current tournaments in the Series.
“Engaging rugby in Asia and growing the sport in Singapore is our prime vision for the tournament and the key associated events and community outreach as part of this tournament will be critical to the long-term sustainability of rugby as we strive to ignite passion in the next generation of players and fans in Singapore, South-east Asia and ultimately across Asia.”
With qualification well underway for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the 2014-15 HSBC Sevens World Series has been exceptionally competitive with England’s victory in the Tokyo Sevens at the weekend meaning that there are now just 29 standing points between England in fourth and South Africa in first with four teams progressing to Rio 2016 from the Series.
Edo State Rugby held a holiday Schools Rugby Clinic on Wed 22 April at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City from 8am – 12noon.
This is a continuation of the World Rugby “Get Into Rugby” Schools Program introduced last year with selected 25 Schools in the Pilot scheme in Benin City conducted by Edo State Rugby Head Coach-i Ntiense Williams.
About 80 students from the ages of 11-18 both boys & girls were in attendance. The Training program will continue in the individual Schools resumes next week.
The ‘Catch them Young Rugby program” in Edo State will soon snowball into an Inter-Schools Rugby Championship in the nearest future once we can get some well meaning individuals & companies to Sponsors this worthy course.
This program is aimed at developing the game of rugby from the grassroots towards assembling an Edo home grown rugby team for subsequent Junior Sports Festival, Schools Sports Festival, & National Sports Festival to mention a few.
History was made on the 29th of December 2014 as rugby clubs representatives and stake holders assembled in Lagos for its first ever general assembly. The meeting was imperative In line with RUGBY AFRICA/WORLD RUGBY policy and standard.
The meeting which was held at the Media Centre of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos had over 30 club representatives and rugby stake holders in attendance. The meeting also had in attendance representatives from Rugby Africa Ms Gifty Annan-Myers from Ghana, NOC and NSC representatives.
While crucial matters were discussed at the meeting, it was chaired by the president of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation and also witnessed by the board of the federation.
A referee and coaches association was inaugurated at the event, Ntiense Williams was nominated as coordinator of the associations and also Joy Meyaki a member of the board was nominated as the female rugby coordinator.
The president of the federation reacted expressing his pleasure over the outcome of the assembly, ‘I am glad we held these assembly, It simply means we have conformed with the expectation of World Rugby which we are affiliated to. I am optimistic they will be impressed with us and our ties with them will automatically be strengthened, the assembly will also gave room for wider participation in the administration and governance of the sport in Nigeria, we believe the assembly will trigger a revolution in the development of Rugby in Nigeria’
The Rugby community in Nigeria will be treated to an uncommon version of the game this yuletide season with the 2nd edition of the Sandie Beach Rugby Tournament scheduled to take place on Saturday 27th December 2014 at the famous Elegushi beach in Lekki from 10am through to 4pm.
According to the initiator of the tournament Mr. Olatunbosun Ayo Johnson who is the Head coach of Racing Rugby football club Lagos, “Sandie beach is an annual event designed for the rugby community, to showcase the game, to the general public, as well as celebrate the festive season, as a family. The game was unofficially introduced to the Lagos rugby community in the year 2013, via sandie beach, and is holding hers second edition about this Christmas”
According to Mr. Johnson, “We are inviting the general public, all rugby enthusiasts, and curious Nigerians (both male & female) to come join in celebrating the festive season at the famous elegushi beach his December the 27th. In his words, he said “it promise to be an action packed fun filled, and educative day, with lots of prizes too be won”.
The maiden edition last year had eight 8 teams participating, with Team Yusuf edging out Eco II Rugby team by 3 points to 1 point, to claim the prize in the epic final.
Mr. Olatunbosun said the sport is suffering from prejudice, and lack of understanding and awareness, as a lot of Nigerian tends to judge the sport as being rough, without trying to understand the principles behind it. He went on to say that “Rugby is not just a fantastic sport, it’s a way of life! Its principled, its discipline, on and off the pitch, which is generally referred to as “A rough game played by gentlemen”. It perches hard work, team work, respect, self development, camaraderie and a lot more that you have to experience to understand. Rugby is beautiful, a way of life, makes you confident, a tool that UNITES! As used by Mandela, “A language that THE WORLD UNDERSTANDS.”
The event will be holding at the Vertigo Longue in Elegushi beach lekki, and kicks off from 10am through to 4pm, There will be loads of prizes, both in cash & products which has been kindly donated by U.B.A. & Aristo mix multimedia.
Meanwhile, Ntiense Williams, popularly called “Mr. Rugby” has thrown his weight behind the project describing it as a welcome development for the game of Rugby in Nigeria. According to him, “Beach Rugby is a version of Rugby which is fast catching up around the world, and Nigeria with its beautiful beaches should encourage this version of the game.” It is a very good stamina training which does not require much equipments such as boots & stockings! It is sure a welcome development for our teaming rugby enthusiast.
According to Mr. Williams who have just returned from the World Rugby organized Educators Training Course held at the famous Ellis Park in South Africa, “Beach Rugby was held just last week in Rio, Brazil with International Rugby stars featuring. This was specifically meant to promote Rugby Sevens’ debut at the Rio 2016 Olympics.”
The spectacular event was supported by World Rugby and run by the Brazilian Rugby Union, the event will delivered a fitting celebration of Rugby Sevens at the 2016 Olympic Games as men’s and women’s teams representing Argentina, Italy and host Brazil will took centre stage at one of the world’s most iconic beach cities at its busiest time of year.
According to the World Rugby President Mr. Bernard Lapasset “We are excited about the debut of rugby sevens at Rio 2016 and the growth opportunity provided by showcasing our sport on the world’s biggest sporting stage.
“Rugby sevens’ winning blend of high-octane action, close competition and entertainment is proving a hit with young audiences, broadcasters and commercial partners and I am confident that Rio will love sevens. This is why we believe rugby sevens will be great for the Olympics, great for Brazil and great for rugby.
You are all cordially invited to come and celebrate this festive season with the family on Saturday watching or playing Rugby.
This years’ edition have so far received an overwhelming participating teams almost doubling the maiden edition last year.
South Africa’s academy side beats Kenya’s second string in Harare to reclaim the CAR Africa sevens title.
South Africa’s sevens academy side scored a confidence-boosting regional victory at the CAR Africa 7s to underline the country’s strength in depth ahead of the upcoming rounds of the HSBC Sevens World Series in Dubai and South Africa.
In doing so, the side won back Africa’s sevens crown at the Prince Edward School in Harare, which was won by Kenya in 2013.
Featuring seasoned veterans such as Chris Dry and Steven Hunt, South Africa’s second string went unbeaten in the tournament and beat Kenya’s Shujaa in the final 38-5.
Both nations topped their respective pools and went on to reach the final with respective wins over hosts Zimbabwe, 19-12 and Tunisia, 29-5. Zimbabwe, meanwhile, ensured that the home Harare fans went home happy with a morale-boosting 41-5 win against Tunisia to finish third.
Pool A standings: 1 South Africa (academy), 2 Tunisia, 3 Madagascar, 4 Senegal, 5 Zambia, 6 Botswana
Pool B standings: 1 Kenya (Shujaa), 2 Zimbabwe, 3 Namibia, 4 Uganda, 5 Nigeria, 6 Ivory Coast
South Africa win back Africa Rugby sevens crown
Blitzboks head for Dubai
On the same day their countrymen regained regional bragging rights, Neil Powell’s Blitzbok senior side embarked on the journey to Dubai for the Emirates Dubai Sevens, round 2 of the world series.
Two notable inclusions are Kyle Brown and Rayno Benjamin, pictured. Brown has recovered from the injury he suffered at the Commonwealth Games, while Benjamin was part of the world series-winning side in 2008/09 and his inclusion signals South Africa’s intent in this Olympic qualifying season.
Final ranking CAR Africa Sevens, Harare, Zimbabwe
1. South Africa (academy)
2. Kenya (Shujaa)
3. Zimbabwe
4. Tunisia
5. Namibia
6. Uganda
7. Madagascar
8. Senegal
9. Zambia
10. Botswana
11. Nigeria
12. Ivory Coast
The Edo State will be breaking new grounds with the introduction of the game of Rugby into schools through the launch of International Rugby Board grassroots program tagged “Get Into Rugby”
The program will be launched on Thursday 06 November 2014 through a Seminar & Clinic at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Media Center from 9am-4pm for School’s sports teacher/master/mistress of over 25 Schools drawn from both government and private schools respectively in Benin City.
According to the coordinator of the program Mr. Ntiense Williams, the Head Coach of Edo State Rugby Association, who also introduced the sport into Edo State some 8 years ago, “We will like to get Edo State fully integrated into the National & International Rugby scheme of things with the introduction of the Schools Rugby program tagged by the International Rugby Board as “Get Into Rugby” (GIR), and what we will popularly refer to as “Catch Them Young Sports Development Program.
This program is a genuine way of inculcating the ethos & rudiments of Rugby Football to our children at a very early age which will greatly help them to grow in the system, and become National & International players of repute to Edo State in the nearest future. Said Williams who is also popularly know as “Mr. Rugby” in Nigeria.
“initially when I was brought to Edo state, it was solely for producing a team, and winning the National Sports Festival which we have done creditably well with a historic record of 4 gold medals out of the available 6 gold medal, a feat which has not be broken to date, but we believe that we need to bring the game to the international standard which is why the introduction of the schools game is very paramount” Said Ntiense who is the only International Rugby Board Educator for Nigeria.
IRB – Get Into Rugby
“Get Into Rugby” (GIR) is an International Rugby Board program aimed at promoting and popularizing the beautiful game of Rugby around the world towards Rugby’s re-introduction into the Olympic Games of Rio 2016 as a medal winning event.
Early this year, the IRB in conjunction with the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation hosted an Educator & Coaching Seminar for the “Get Into Rugby” program in Lagos. At the end of the program, Edo State was one of the 8 States in the entire country selected for the Pilot Scheme of the program.
This program is very timely for us in Edo State, as we are now involved in genuine sports development to be able to identify talents to replace our aging ones who are fast wearing out.
We will also be grooming up genuine athletes for the Junior National Sports Festival & the Schools Sports Festival respectively, which Rugby will soon feature in and also preparing the grounds for the reintroduction of Rugby in the Bi-annual National Sports Festival after Calabar 2014 games.
We will like to call on well meaning Companies, Organizations, and individuals to come on board to sponsor this program through the donation of simple things like Rugby balls which is the basic requirement to introduce the game into a community. We are looking at attaching each school in the program to an interested individual sponsor or donor, especially people that have affinity with the school.
I am really excited with this program and I am looking forward to it kicking of with the launch Seminar & Clinic on Thursday at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium. I am very grateful to the Nigeria Association of Physical Health Education, Recreation, Sports & Dance Oredo Chapter led by the Chairman Mr. Okunyawe A.V. & Secretary Mr. Peter Okodu who have given the program a good platform to spring off from.
The Seminar & Clinic is expected to be declared open by the Edo State Honourable Commissioner for Youth, Sports & Social Mobilization Chris Okaeben.
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