Rugby action is making a grand comeback to Warri, Delta State, with the much-anticipated Warri Rugby Rumble scheduled to take place from April 4-7, 2025, at Nana Model College, Warri.
The thrilling event will showcase a series of rugby challenge matches, pitting the South-South rugby champions, Edo State men’s team, against Warri Rugby Football Club. Spectators can expect intense battles across different formats, including seven, ten, and fifteen-aside rugby matches.
For the visiting Edo team, who recently secured a spot in the National Rugby League Finals, this encounter will serve as a crucial warm-up ahead of their upcoming national engagements.
Speaking about the significance of the event, Victor Nwachukwu, head coach of the Warri Eagles Rugby Club, emphasized the honor of hosting the reigning South-South champions. He credited the efforts of veteran and senior rugby players in Warri for making the event possible after years of limited rugby activity in the region.
“Rugby has a rich history in Warri, dating back to the early days of oil exploration in the area. Over the years, we’ve actively participated in national tournaments across Lagos, Jos, and Abuja, with some of our players even making it into the male national teams,” Nwachukwu stated.
He further highlighted the event’s deeper significance, revealing that it was inspired by one of Warri’s own, Aghogho Peace Ejiro, who grew up playing rugby in the city and has since built a successful career overseas. Now a winger for London Chargers Rugby League and a key player for Nigeria Stallion 7’s UK, Ejiro has returned home to give back to both the sport and the community that shaped him.
The Warri Rugby Rumble is set to attract spectators from various locations, including Lagos, Abuja, Edo, Asaba, and even England, making it an international rugby spectacle.
Adding to the momentum, Warri South Local Government Chairman, Weyinmi Agbateyiniro, has pledged his full support for the event, seeing it as a vital step toward reviving rugby culture in Warri.
