News

28/07/2011 Regional tournaments find entrants for national finals

The weekend saw FoRR’s Rugby Development Officers hold a series of tournaments in regions across the country.  The prize, in each contest, being a trip to Kigali to compete in the finals series. The winners of that competition will be crowned Rwandan National 7’s School Champions for 2011. Games were held between 18 schools in locations including the Muhanga Stadium, Mulindi Tea Factory and in Ruhango. The winners were Eteka, E.S. Mulindi and ETO Gitarama. FoRR would also like to thank MUHIRE Nardi, NEMEYE Emmy and KAMALI Vincent for their efforts in officiating the matches. Finally congratulations must go to all coaches, teachers and players on their fantastic efforts

March 2011 Training in Rulindo

Alexis

Sibomana, FoRR’s  Rugby Development Officer in the North, organised a coaching day at SHYORONGYI pitch. Teachers from all of the schools in the Rulindo district attended and Alexis ran a training session for coaches and players. The day was a great success and it is hoped to be repeated soon. The schools need more support with training and equipment.

2011 Tour

A brilliant tour to Huye was completed recently with 11 tourists delivering huges amounts of equipment to new schools and re-launching the game in this region. FoRR is now looking to employ a full timwe RDO in Huye to sustain the work initiated by this great group of coaches.

Lion De Fer RFC Tournament March 2011

The tournament was organized by LION DE FER RFC, and was sponsored by SULFO RWANDA, and was for girls teams including 7 teams from Secondary schools and one club, LION DE FER.
Teams participated:
1.Lion de Fer
2.GROUPE SCOLAIRE NOTRE DAME from NYAMAGABE DISTRICT(Two teams A and B)
3.GROUPE SCOLAIRE REMERA RUKOMA
4.APEC REMERA RUKOMA
5.EMERU INTWARI( two teams A and B)
6.GROUPE SCOLAIRE St PAULThe tournaments was held at GREEN HILLS Academy ground near to MTN CENTER and there were some men’s clubs invited to play in order to assist their sisters, including:
1.REMERA Buffaloes RFC
2.KIGALI SHARKS RFC
3.LION DE FER RFC
3.UNR Grizlies RFC
4.MUHANGA RFC

The winning teams were two teams from GROUPE SCOLAIRE NOTRE DAME.

19/01/2011 – Tharcisse Kamanda appointed Schools Commissioner

The Federation of Rwandan Rugby recently created the post of Schools Commissioner and granted the position to Tharcisse Kamanda. This new official role will empower Kamanda to build on the many years of work he has performed trying to entrench the game in schools in the country. An ambitious plan for development across the whole nation will now be guided by the Federation and as the program manager of UK Registered charity Friends of Rwandan Rugby, Kamanda is in a fantastic position to get resources to both primary and secondary schools.

01/01/2011 – New Rugby Development Officer for Muhanga Region

HAKIZIMANA Laurien has been chosen as the 4th member of the FoRR rugby development team. He will be working with primary schools in Remera, Mbare, Baringa and Kabgayi introducing the game of TAG rugby to new schools and continuing with the coaching support of existing schools. His role also includes working with the secondary schools that have a strong history around the region and prepare them for fixtures that he will need to referee. Laurien’s  final challenge will be to meet with former school rugby players in an attempt to create the first men’s rugby club in Muhaunga.

08/12/2010 – Breakfast with Shaun Edwards

FoRR was delighted to be the recipient of a breakfast hosted by Shaun Edwards at the High Wycombe stadium. The event saw a gathering of 75 Wasps business supporters who were entertained by an amusing question and answer session. During his talk Shaun highlighted the good that he had seen rugby do in South Africa whilst on tour with the British and Irish Lions and he threw his whole hearted support behind FoRR.  He even expressed an interest in coming out to Rwanda to do some coaching in oncoming off seasons.

08/12/2010 – Massive Numbers Show Interest in Learning Rugby

In the rural community of Northern Rwanda a spark has been lit. One single Rugby Development Officer, Alexis Sibomana is now reporting over 1500 students from local schools have taken instruction on the rules of rugby and participated in a variety of training sessions. In addition to the students Alexis is working on the basics of refereeing with 7 keen refs in a hope of providing more game opportunities for the eager youths. An exhaustive schedule see the following programs receive instruction on a weekly basis EP KANIGA, EP & ES BUGOMA,EP & ES MULINDI, EP KARAMBI,EP MUGINA, EP & ES KIRUHURA,  EP MUKARANGE,EP& ES NYAGAKIZI, and COLLEGE DE RUSHAKI

December 2010 – Primary School Numbers Grow

The southern part of Rwanda continues to be a great breeding ground for young rugby talent. Southern Rugby Development Officer Muvunyi Mathieu reported that 8 schools in his area are now actively playing the game. Kiziberi, Kageyo, Mbuye, Amizero, Ruhango Catholic, Nyamagana, Gitisi and Munni are all creating and developing teams. Planning has begun for a tournament to take place in 2011.

December 2010 – Frank Hadden Gets in Touch

After a recent coaching visit to Rwanda Frank Hadden contacted the charity to ask if there was anything that he could contribute. From first hand experience he was clearly impressed with the passion and commitment of local Rwandan rugby community. Although slightly shocked about the lack of a suitable playing area he spent time with Scottish Regional Referee Development Manager Colin Brett up skilling players and coaches drawing on their vast experience.  Frank has pledged to raise the issue of land with IRB officials. Friends of Rwandan Rugby continues its commitment to help finance the purchase once a suitable field has been sourced.

November 2010 – Female Tour Coach continue good work in Ntenyo

As one of the first two females to assist on an official FoRR coaching tour Agnes NIYOTUMUKESHA has continued to blaze a trail for female coaches in the country. She has started to develop teams in the Ntenyo area and is working with teams from Kageyo and Kizebere primary schools. A friendly fixture is planned for December 2010 and with assistance from the Southern Rugby Development officer this area looks set to continue both boys and girls fixtures into the future. She stated that even with access to limited materials the area is still really hungry to learn more about the sport.

24/10/2010 – Tag Tournament

On the 24th October 2010 our rugby development officer, Muvunyi Mathieu organised a TAG tournament in Huye between the teams who were introduced to rugby on the 2009 Tour. The tournament winners were NGOMA the second was TUMBA the third was KIBONDO and the fourth was NGOMA B. The first team got a big cup, the second got a small cup, the third and fourth got the balls and the trained teacher got the Friends of Rwandan Rugby Certificate.

23/10/2010 – FoRR Annual General Meeting

The full committee held their AGM and mapped out a strategic plan for the upcoming year. Emma Rees was re-appointed President after Danny Stoker stepped down from the position following 3 successful years in the post.  Danny has moved to become Special Events Co-ordinator and will play a significant role on the fundraising subcommittee. Piers Mitchell and Antony Hayes officially join the committee as trustees; bring the total to eight members.  Darren Ead has been appointed in the dual role of Tour Manager and Federation Liaison officer. Key areas for growth such as land acquisition and increasing the number of annual tours were discussed. Official accounts were entered into the minutes and the committee was able to approve the creation of a new Rugby Development Officer position to commence 1st January 2011.

22/10/2010 – Level 1 Coaching Course

Between 22nd -28th October 2010, the Confederation of African Rugby held a Level 1 coaching and refereeing course at the Amahoro Stadium in Rwanda’s capital city, Kigali. Our program manager in Rwanda, Kamanda Tharcisse reported that many players and coaches attended and enjoyed the course. He was also very happy to see many of them were originally players at Shyogwe school who are now in different Regions of Rwanda but are still playing rugby, especially in Universities.

September 2010 – Piers Mitchell’s In-Country Update

Greeted at the airport by the New President of the Federation of Rwandan Rugby Dr Otto Vianney Muhinda, Piers spent two weeks coaching and refereeing rugby throughout the country.  The first weekend of the visit saw him officiate at a schools tournament just outside the capital in Ndera. 10 boys’ teams and 4 girls’ teams were involved travelling from Kigali, Kamonyi and Giterama to participate. The boys final was eventually won by the home side with fierce competition reported throughout. The girls competition received excellent reports and it was said that they played some of the best rugby on the day with excellent passing and in particular good technique when tackling. GS Remera was victorious in the girls competition and a great day was had by all. Upon completion Piers travelled to the North to work with Sonrise school and headed on to Rulindo and Tumba to aid work being carried out by Northern RDO Alexis Sibomana. Eventually moving South to Gitarama Piers experienced utter delight when arriving unannounced he saw both Kabgayi A and Kabgayi B playing TAG.  A trip to Shyogwe resulted in a very productive training session and it was noted that the standard of play has improved considerably since last years tour to the area. Piers left the area still with the songs the students had learnt the previous year about rugby ringing in his ears. This visit also allowed the introduction of Laurien Hukizimana as a potential RDO for the region allowing Mathieu Muvunyi the opportunity to focus on schools in the Ruhango area.  Piers reported back to the committee that Laurien (a former St Joseph’s pupil) was an impressive young man, good rugby player and seemed well connected within the district. During his time in country Piers was also able to spend some time with the National squad whilst they prepared for an International tournament scheduled for 22nd November 2011. Finally a genuine attempt was made to source appropriate land for purchase. Whilst again proving difficult, discussions were held with the Federation of Rwandan Rugby about short term leasing possibilities and the eventually ownership of a National home ground.

11/09/2010 – Tumba Jaguar Rugby Club Founded by FoRR RDO

FoRR’s mission to drive rugby in rural communities has resulted in the foundation of Rwanda’s newest men’s club. Situated in the far North of the country Jaguar made a successful entrance into the National rugby competition with their maiden victory coming in a game against Remera Puma 7 points to 5.  Founding coach Alexis Sibomana was delighted by the team’s performance and looks to continue to draw talent from the local university to swell the ranks of squad players.

07/09/2010 – Federation of Rwandan Rugby Announces Committee

Results of the Federation AGM have been announced. Dr Otto Vianney Muhinda has been elected President, Alex Araire remains as Vice President (In charge of Marketing), Henry Umwera gets the role of Vice President (Technical), Janvier Ugeziwe continues as Secretary General, Gerald Nsenga moves from VP to National Technical Director and Jean Baptist Itanzi will take the role of Assistant Technical Director.

17/07/2010 – Schools Rugby Rwanda V Democratic Republic of Congo

A young group of rugby players based in Kigali received the opportunity to travel to the North West of the country to play in a game against a team from the neighbouring DRC. It was reported by Kamanda Tharcisse that friendship were formed and knowledge exchanged and in addition to some great rugby the teams took time out to swim in the beautiful Lake Kivu.