Category: Blog

On my 39th birthday my wife gave me a list of 40 things to do during the year before the dreaded 4 – 0!  Number 27: Complete a physical challenge; Number 28: Go away for the weekend with the lads; Number 29:  Raise some money for charity.  The Three Peaks was the perfect challenge.  I was brought up in Zambia where my father was a missionary and played rugby twice a week so FoRR was the perfect charity.  I sent an email to FoRR then had a call from Deena, which was great, and made a pledge to raise funds to cover all activities for a 12 month period!  I assembled 7 good friends and family to do the challenge with me plus a dedicated driver to ferry us between the peaks in a hired minibus.

We started at 5pm on a blustery Friday night in Fort William and finished in the sunshine at the foot of Snowdon at 4.10pm on Saturday afternoon.  Exhausted but elated we had completed the challenge in the time.  A real team effort from the moral of the group getting us through the dark times on ScarFel Pike at 3am in the fog to my wife who prepared all the food and drink for the 9 of us!  A small army!  Most importantly we could not have done it without our friends, family, colleagues, clients, contractors, suppliers etc who responded to our emails and sponsored us.  Facebook and Twitter were invaluable tools for raising money.

When we started the walk at 5pm we had just over half of the funds collected but as soon as we all started posting photos on Facebook of blistered heals, toiling walkers with head torches and peak top group photos the sponsorship money started coming in again.  We raised the final half in 24 hours!! We directed people to a website we had set up www.bb3pc.co.uk which gave the names of all the people on the walk, information on the aims of the charity and links to the sponsorship page.  After visiting the website so many people said it was such a good charity to support and it was so nice to know the money given would go directly to helping the programme in Rwanda. It was a real privilege to be part of the group and it is an experience we will all remember.  We hope the funds we have raised will help FoRR continue the excellent work.

18 year olds, Nick and Mike contacted FoRR back in September last year when they were searching for a rugby coaching and personal development experience for their university summer break. Both are good rugby players representing their county at Under 18s level and have limited coaching experience. Set the task of fundraising the budget to deliver four tournaments during their stay, the boys met and exceeded expectations and received huge support from friends and family. Nick and Mike spent  their first two weeks in two Southern regions, Ruhango and Muhanga with RDOs, Mathieu and Laurien before heading to Gikenke in the North to assist RDO Felix. They finished their trip in Kigali where they coached the Rwanda Orphans Project kids and worked with Under 14s teams. All together they ran a regional sevens tournaments in each location and an under 14s tournament in Kigali. Their contribution greatly supports FoRR’s operation to develop rural school and youth rugby by working closely with our Rugby Development Officers and exposing youngsters to the game.  They returned home full of feedback and described their trip as an incredibly fulfilling and rewarding experience.

Saturday July 20th saw the first Savannah 7s tournament run by African Exiles Rugby at Egham. The tournament was followed by a fun evening of live music. The Savannah 7s is the UK’s biggest African rugby tournament and festival celebrating sub-Saharan culture and they kindly adopted FoRR as their official charity. Invited to enter a team, Friends of Rwandan Rugby fielded eleven willing volunteers who kindly brushed off their boots to have a run around and promote the charity. Although most players had never met each other prior to the event it was inspiring how quickly a team ethos developed. Remarkably the team reached the semi-final of the plate.  The fundraising and awareness raising aspects of the event capped off a tremendous day and huge thanks must go to all of the additional volunteers that manned the stall and contributed to the atmosphere on the day.

Nick and Mike Brook are currently in Rwanda on a month long stay assisting our Rugby Development Officers organise and complete the July schools tournaments. Reports suggest that the experience is going extremely well with only a few minor challenges for the boys in the refereeing department. They assure all that their Kinyarwandan will improve !!

The sixth annual coaching tour has delivered tournament day in Gicumbi in Northern Rwanda. A group of 20 British and Rwandan coaches have been working in the area for the past 6 days, delivering materials, training teachers, up-skilling RDO’s. A wonderful day was had by all and rugby continues to grow throughout regional schools in Rwanda

The team from Bhubesi Pride recently visited Rulindo District in Nothern Africa to work with 216 primary school children from three different schools. Programme Manager, Kamanda Tharcisse and RDO Alex Sibomana were on hand to offer coaching support and assisted with organisation of the visit. The visit culminated in a tournament with Nyirabirori playing Tumba in the final game. See http://www.rugbyinafrica.org/about/project-work/rugby-in-africa-2013/ to learn more about the Bhubesi project

10 Teams from 9 primary schools met at the Ruhango playing field to participate in a Tag Rugby tournament organized by FoRR Rugby Development Officer Muvunyi Mathieu.

Participating Primary Schools included; Ruhango Catholic, Ruhango Adventist, Amizero,Gitisi, Nyamagana, Munini, Musamo, Kageyo and KiziberiI.

Amizero fielded two teams and all teams were divided into two pools. The final saw Amizero A against Ruhango Catholic. It was a close game but Amizero A dominated the second half leading to a final score of 30 to 20.

President of the Rwanda Rugby Federation, Dr Otto Vianney MUHINDA presenting the trophy to the winning captain Jean Marie Vianney UMUTONI

This tournament consisted of the victors of the regional 7s tournaments which were held in four regions. The 8 teams were divided into the following two pools; Pool A:, Ikirezi, ACEJ Karama, G.S St Famille A, ISETAR Runda. Pool B: E.S Mulindi, E.S Apemu Ruli, G.S Rwankuba, G.S St Famille B

The results were as follows;
Pool A
Lycee De Ruhango 12 vs ACEJ Karama 5
G.S St Famille A 0 vs ISETAR 33
Lycee De Ruhango 12 vs G.S St Famille A 0
ACEJ Karama 0 vs ISETAR 29
Lycee De Ruhango 0 vs ISETAR 29
G.S St Famille A 0 vs ACEJ Karama 12

Pool B
E.S Apemu Ruli 15 vs G.S Rwankuba 0
G.S St Famille B 0 vs E.S Mulindi 17
E.S Apemu Ruli 19 vs G.S St Famille B 0
E.S Apemu Ruli 12 vs E.S Mulindi 7
E.S Mulindi 21vs G.S Rwankuba 0
G.S Rwankuba 5 vs G.S St Famille B 0

SEMI-FINALS:
1. Lycee De Ruhango 0 vs E.S Apemu Ruli 22
2.ISETAR 14 vs E.S Mulindi 0

FINAL:
ES Apemu Ruli 5 vs ISETAR Runda 27

The Player of the tournament was NKURUNZIZA Emmanuel of ISETAR RUNDA

The event was attended by the President of the Rwanda Rugby Federation, Dr Otto Vianney MUHINDA who presented the trophies to the winning teams. The final game saw ISETAR dominate E.S Apemu Ruli and the final score was 27 to 5 in favour of ISETAR. Refereeing support was provided by FoRR Rugby Development Officers, all players and officials had a terrific day. This has been a great year for ISETAR who represented Rwanda in the Federation of East Africa Schools Championship in Bujumbura at the end of August.

RDO Alex Sibomana arranged a Tag Rugby Tournament for primary schools in the Northern Region of Rwanda which saw eight teams divided into two pools. Participating schools included: Mulindi Primary, Kuruhura Primary, Kaniga Primary, Nyagakizi Primary, Maya Primary, Bugoma Primary, Mugina Primary, Mukarange Primary. The games were held at Mulindi Tea Factory and the final saw Maya take on Mukarange with Maya the victors with a score of 35 to 15.

The third round in a series of regional tournaments across Rwanda organised by by FoRR Program Manager, Kamanda Tharcisse and RDO Alexis Sibomana took place this week. Two pools of seven teams competed at Mulindi Tea Factory ground including: E.S Mulindi Rushaki College, E.S Kamutora, G.S Nyagakizi,G.S Kiruhura, G.S Bugoma, G.S Mukarange and G.S Muyumbu. In the final E.S Mulindi took on Rushaki College and dominated the game with the final score 25-5 to them. The games were refereed by Aimable Harerimana and Jean Claude Ntezimana and the Executive Secretary of Kaniga Sector attended the event. Big thanks go to Alex Sibomana and all Headteachers involved with a special mention to Mulindi Tea Factory who made the pitch available which made the tournament very successful

ACEJ Karama celebrate their tournament victory

The Champs-ICETAR

Managed by MINEDUC (Rwandan Ministry of Education) who provided transport, accommodation and trophies, these school games are held in All sports including Netball, Soccer, Volleyball, Basketball, Handball and Basketball, rugby is a recent addition to the programme.
Here are the results of the Rugby semi-finals;

E.T Mukingi, Ruhango beat INYEMERAMIHIGO COLLEGE, Rubavu 107-0
ICETAR, Kamonyi beat G.S GAHINI, Kayonza 53-9.

During the final E.T Mukingi took on ICETAR in a hard game with Mukingi dominating the first half until they unfortunately lost their two best players at fly half and second centre due to injury which gave ICETAR the initiative in the second half. The final score was 6-3 to ICETAR who now have the opportunity to represent Rwanda in the Federation of East African Secondary Schools Championship in to be held in Bujumbura, Burundi this August. The games were refereed by FoRR Programme Manager, Kamanda Tharcisse, FoRR RDO Hakizimana Laurien and Rwandan Rugby Federation Representative, Itanzi Jean Baptiste.

WELCOME BACK AND THANK YOU TO OUR 2012 COACHES!
FoRR would like to announce the completion of our largest tour group to Rwanda yet. The group was based in Huye in the South of Rwanda and developed rugby in six primary schools in the town which culminated in a wonderful tournament on the final day. A full report of activities will follow shortly.

05/05/2012 Muhanga TAG Rugby Tournament

8 teams from 7 primary schools met at Kabgayi Stadium to participate in a TAG Rugby Tournament organised by FoRR RDO Laurien Hakizimana.  Participating schools included; Shyogwe, Kabgayi A, Kabgayi B, Gitarama, Mbare, Remera and Gahoho. Shyogwe Primary School brought two teams and the final saw Shoygwe B win against Gitarama and the final score was 35 points to 15. Laurien managed the day and refereed with support from the Schools’ Sports Teachers.

During this week, FoRR RDO Alex Sibomana worked with a number of primary and secondary schools in the Northern Region of the country. Participating schools included Rulindo Primary, GS Nyiramiroli Primary and Secondary, ES Apeki Timna and Tumba Public Primary Schools and each school sent 80-120 students who benefitted from the coaching skills and enthusiasm of the visiting coaches.

Today saw eight teams from across the country compete in Kigali throughout a rainy day to become Rwandan National schools champions of 7’s rugby. Eteka, ETO Gitarama, Ecole Secondaire Mulindi, Ecole Technique Mukingi, Rushaki College, Ecole Secondaire Buringa & Apred Ndera all took part and it was wonderful to see students from across Rwanda come together for a festival of fun. FoRR RDO Sibomana Alexis was able to source milk and water generously supplied by INYANGE Industries and the teams shared lunch as well as competition. FoRR program manager Tharcisse Kamanda said that although it was very hard for he and his RDO’s to organise the finals all players and officiials had a terrific day. Refereeing support was provided by Itanzi Jean Baptiste, Nemeye Emmy & Nsengimana Felix. The event was attended by Federation of Rwandan Rugby Secrectary General Ugeziwe Janvier and Vice President Alex Araire with eventual winners Apred Ndera defeating Ecole Technique Mukingi in a tight final seven points to five.

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