The Ghana Rugby Association, operating as the Ghana Rugby Football Union, is the governing body for

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

Ghana Ghana (; tw, Gaana, ee, Gana), officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country in West Africa. It abuts the Gulf of Guinea and the Atlantic Ocean to the south, sharing borders with Ivory Coast in the west, Burkina Faso in the north, and To ...

. It is a member of

Rugby Africa Rugby Africa, is the administrative body for rugby union within the continent of Africa under the authority of World Rugby, which is the world governing body of rugby union. , Rugby Africa has 37 member nations and runs several rugby tournaments ...

and a full member of

World Rugby World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rug ...

since 2017.

Herbert Mensah Herbert Amponsah Mensah is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and the President of World Rugby’s African association, Rugby Africa, the governing body of Rugby in Africa. He is also the presidentMyjoyonline"Herbert Mensah elected as n ...
Presidency - since 5 June 2014

2016 Ghana Rugby Club Championship Final

Prior to his appointment as President of Ghana Rugby, Mensah was appointed to the executive of the Greater Accra Rugby Association (GARA) in May 2014.Graphic Onlin
"Build infrastructure to promote rugby — Herbert Mensah"
Accra, 10 May 2014. Retrieved 2 April 2015. At the occasion, he stressed the importance to build infrastructure to motivate the youth and to grow the game of

rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

in Ghana. On assuming office, his first priority was to order an assessment of the state of rugby in Ghana by his board members. He travelled to

Dublin Dublin (; , or ) is the capital and largest city of Ireland. On a bay at the mouth of the River Liffey, it is in the province of Leinster, bordered on the south by the Dublin Mountains, a part of the Wicklow Mountains range. At the 2016 c ...

to meet with officials of

to seek guidance on the development of Rugby in Ghana.GhanaWeb
"President of Ghana Rugby meets with IRB"
Accra, 1 July 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. The meeting was followed up with a meeting, also in

, with the Rugby Africa Development Manager.Peace FM Online
"Ghana Rugby President Meets With IRB Africa Development Manager"
, Accra, 29 September 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. He also met with various stakeholdersJoy Online
"Ghana Rugby to consult stakeholders as it finalises blueprint"
Accra, 7 August 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. including regional associations, clubs, playersPeace FM Online
"Ghana Rugby Players Association To Address Stakeholder Forum"
, Accra, 25 August 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. and the business community.Peace FM Online
"Rugby Stakeholders Embrace Changes In Ghana"
, Accra, 18 August 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. On Friday, 29 August 2014, Mensah convened a Ghana Rugby Stakeholder Forum in Accra, where the Ghana Rugby Blueprint was presented.Peace FM Online
"Ghana Rugby Family Concludes Forum Successfully"
, Accra, 3 September 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. He also arranged training sessions for both coachesGhanaWeb
"Herbert Mensah commends first rugby coaches training in Ghana"
, Accra, 22 July 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. and referees to improve the quality of the sport in

. The coaches' training conducted by Mr David Dobelagsport
"Springbok Coach Happy with Camp"
Retrieved 4 April 2015. of

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

was described as a historical event for Ghana Rugby as it was the first time in 11 years that coaches were trained on both Level 1World Rugby
"Level 1 Coaching - Introducing Rugby”
Retrieved 4 April 2015. and Level 2World Rugby
"Level 2 - Developing Rugby Skills”
Retrieved 4 April 2015. for rugby union and SevensWorld Rugby
"Difference between Fifteens and Sevens"
Retrieved 4 April 2015. coaching. Herbert Mensah meets World Rugby

Based on his consultations with both World Rugby and Rugby Africa, Mensah realised that a stumbling block in the way of Ghana Rugby to become a full member of

was the successful completion of a successfully run local league by at least ten clubs. He immediately mobilised his resources,Peace FM Online
"Ghana Rugby Clubs Meet With Board To Plot Local League”
. Retrieved 4 April 2015. and planned and completedGhanaWeb
"Cosmos Buffaloes crowned 2014/2015 Champions of Ghana Rugby"
Retrieved 4 April 2015. the first professionally run Ghana Rugby Club Championship (GRCC). One of Mensah's major challenges as president of Ghana Rugby remains funding the sport and he has initiated various activities including a raffle ticket drive.Joy Onlin
"Cuzzy Bro's to support Ghana Rugby development”
25 September 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. He also managed to get corporates such as Accra Brewery
Interplast Ghana

Vodafone Ghana Vodafone Ghana, formerly Ghana Telecom, is the national telecommunications company of Ghana. The company in Ghana operates under Vodacom Group - Africa's leading mobile telecommunications company. As of January 2020, it had around 9.3 million mob ...

an
Zen Petroleum
involved in supporting Ghana Rugby. In collaboration with the

management team he staged a management motivational event using the values and principles of rugby to help Vodafone prepare its management for year ahead.My Joy Online
"Vodafone trains senior staff to succeed using management principles from Rugby"
20 March 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2015. He has challenged the

Government of Ghana The Government of Ghana was created as a parliamentary democracy, followed by alternating military and civilian governments in Ghana. In January 1993, military government gave way to the Fourth Republic after presidential and parliamentary electi ...

on more than one occasionCiti FM Online
"Politicians and media have failed Ghana – Herbert Mensah”
8 December 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015.Citi Peace FM Online
"Herbert Mensah To Sue Ministry Over Whereabouts Of GHC100k Rugby Fund?"
, 9 October 2014. Retrieved 4 April 2015. about support promised to minority sports such as rugby that has never been delivered. He remains a vocal critic of other government failures well beyond the realm of sport. After the 2015–16 Ghana Rugby Club Championship, Mensah, in the absence of a National Technical Director, appointed a four-man technical squad under his guidance to prepare the Ghana national men's sevens team for its Africa Rugby international commitment.My Joy Online
"Ghana Rugby announces National Men's Sevens Team"
17 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016. The technical team consisting of Messrs. Simba Mangena (Head Coach of Conquerors SC), Clement Dennis (Player / Coach of Griffons RFC), Amuzuloh Salim (Head Coach of Cosmos Buffaloes RFC) and Dan Hoppe (Idas Sports RFC) put the squad of 25 players through a rigorous training programme that ended in April 2016. This was followed by Phase II of the preparation that started early May when a reduced squad of 16 players started camping in Accra. Ghana Eagles Togo 2016

The final squad of 12 players who competed in the Africa Rugby "Africa Cup West" men's sevens tournament in Lome, Togo on 28 May 2016 consisted of: Dan Hoppe (Idas Sports RFC), Clement Dennis (Griffons RFC), Sani Alhassan (Captain)(Cosmos Buffaloes RFC), Alex Dorpenyo (Conquerors SC), Seidu Razak (Conquerors SC), Solomon Akumba (Cosmos Buffaloes RFC), Michael Acquaye (Conquerors SC), Calestus Bosoka (Conquerors SC), Emmanuel Kalos (Conquerors SC), Joseph Mensah (Griffons RFC), Erick Acquah (Griffons RFC) and Nasiru Aminu (Conquerors SC). The Ghana Eagles, as the Ghana national Rugby team is known, managed to lift the Bronze or Third Place cup after it was ranked as number one based on the Pool results.Modern Ghana

29 May 2014. Retrieved 30 May 2016.

Full Membership of World Rugby

On 10 May 2017 the World Rugby Council approved the application by the Ghana Rugby Football Union as a full member union, bringing the total number to 104 full members and 17 associates.World Rugb

"Ghana welcomed as full member union of World Rugby"], 21 May 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017. In announcing the achievement World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont said: "We are delighted to be welcoming Ghana as a full member of World Rugby. These are very exciting times for our sport with unprecedented growth and interest around the world. With today's announcement, we look forward to a strong, well-organised game in Ghana and we are glad that the union is now ready to join the global rugby family as a full member and continue its work growing the game in Africa.”

Other Achievements in 2017

Besides for the promotion to Full Membership of World Rugby, Ghana Rugby also experienced a memorable year in other areas.

Winner of Rugby Africa Regional Challenge - West 1

Ghana Rugby was awarded the hosting rights for the 2017 Rugby Africa Regional Challenge - West 1 between Benin, Ghana and Togo in Accra,

.Rugby Afriqu

"REGIONAL CHALLENGE – WEST 1"], May 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017. Ghana Rugby managed to win the tournament by beating Benin 46 - 5 and Togo 10 - 0 to lift the Regional Challenge Trophy.

Ranking on Rugby Africa Men's Sevens Log

Ghana Rugby competed for the first time in the Rugby Africa Men's Sevens Tournament in

Kampala Kampala (, ) is the capital and largest city of Uganda. The city proper has a population of 1,680,000 and is divided into the five political divisions of Kampala Central Division, Kawempe Division, Makindye Division, Nakawa Division, and Ruba ...

Uganda }), is a landlocked country in East Africa. The country is bordered to the east by Kenya, to the north by South Sudan, to the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to the south-west by Rwanda, and to the south by Tanzania. The sou ...

by beating

Mauritius Mauritius ( ; french: Maurice, link=no ; mfe, label= Mauritian Creole, Moris ), officially the Republic of Mauritius, is an island nation in the Indian Ocean about off the southeast coast of the African continent, east of Madagascar. It ...

26 to 0 to be placed 9th in the Africa Men's Sevens Tournament.Peace F

"Ghana Rugby Successfully Kicked Off The Journey To The World Stage"], 9 October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017. The competition was played between ten of Africa's best nations between 6 and 7 October 2017 in

.Rugby Afriqu

"2017 AFRICA MEN’S SEVENS: UGANDA MAKES A CLEAN SWEEP AGAIN !"], October 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.

Promotion to Rugby Africa 2018 Bronze Cup

Ghana Rugby ended 2017 on a high note when was promoted from the Rugby Africa Regional Challenge to the 2018 Rugby Africa Bronze Cup.Rugby Afriqu

"2017 Ghana Rugby ends 2017 on high note with Bronze Cup promotion"], 24 November 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017.Rugby Afrique. ugby Africa unveils the 2018 Competition Schedule: 32 African countries, 10 competitions, more than 100 matches"Rugby Africa unveils the 2018 Competition Schedule: 32 African countries, 10 competitions, more than 100 matches"], 13 December 2017. Retrieved 26 December 2017. The announcement that was issued by Rugby Afrique said that the Rugby Africa Bronze Cup will take place from the 9th to 12 May in Accra,

between

, Lesotho,

and Rwanda.

Re-election as President and Board Chairman of Ghana Rugby

On 25 September 2017 Ghana Rugby elected a new Board and Officers based on a newly adopted Constitution. Mensah was elected as president and board member by the GRFU constitutional electorate and he was subsequently appointed as board chairman by the newly elected Board.GhanaWe

"Ghana Rugby inaugurates Officers and Board"], 25 September 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017. World Rugby Chairman Bill Beaumont and the CEO of World Rugby, Brett Gosper, congratulated Mensah and the GRFU Board in a joint statement and said that they "look forward to continuing to work with you and the Board going forward".Peace F

"GRFU Re-elects Herbert Mensah As Prez...World Rugby Sents Felicitation"], 2 October 2017. Retrieved 3 October 2017. In February 2020 he was re-elected President by the Ghana Rugby Football Union. He run unchallenged at a Special General Meeting and was also reappointed board chairman for a term spanning four years.

Ghana Rugby Football Union

The Ghana Rugby football Union (GRFU) is the governing body for

Rugby Union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

. It was established in 2003 and is now a full member of

"Ghana welcomed as full member union of World Rugby"
Dublin, 21 May 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017. It is also a full member of World Rugby's Africa Region,

History

The Ghana Rugby Football Union was established in 2003 by Guy Chaley who came from Cameroon to create the Ghana national rugby union team. The team won their first match against the Mauritania national rugby union team by 29–8. Since then the team has entered a number of successful tournaments created by Rugby Africa, previously known as CAR. As well as the national team, the union also boasts a number of age grade national teams such as the national Under 20 team, and it also has a new and successful women's team. The body's headquarters are in Accra. The union's president is

Herbert Mensah Herbert Amponsah Mensah is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and the President of World Rugby’s African association, Rugby Africa, the governing body of Rugby in Africa. He is also the presidentMyjoyonline"Herbert Mensah elected as n ...

a former player, sports administrator and business man. At an Election Congress of Ghana Rugby on 5 June 2014 the first change in the administration took place since its inception in 2003 when

was elected as the second President of the GRFU.Ghana Rugby
"Herbert Mensah elected as new Ghana Rugby President"
Accra. Retrieved 1 July 2017.

National teams

Ghana boasts a number of national teams such as the senior national 15s, Senior national 7s, under 18, 15 and 12 teams.

Constitution

The GRFU adopted a new ConstitutionConstitution of Ghana Rugby
"Ghana Rugby Constitution"
Accra. Retrieved 1 July 2017. at a Special Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on 17 June 2017 in Accra. The election of new board members in accordance with the new Constitution is scheduled for September 2017.

Members

According to the GRFU Constitution the Union has two Members, namely the Greater Accra Rugby Association (GARA) and the CentWest Rugby Association (CentWest).

Greater Accra Rugby Association (GARA)

The Greater Accra Rugby Association (GARA) is a Member of Ghana Rugby with the following Clubs affiliated to GARA: * Accra Rugby Club * Conquerors Sporting Club * Cosmos Buffaloes R F C * Dansoman Hurricanes R F C * Lions R F C * Titans Sporting Club

CentWest Rugby Association (CentWest)

The CentWest Rugby Association (CentWest) is a Member of Ghana Rugby with the following Clubs affiliated to CentWest: * Dennis Foundation Sporting Club * Griffons R F C * Stallions R F C * U C C Spartans R F C * Western Cheetahs R F C

Rugby Africa Rugby Africa, is the administrative body for rugby union within the continent of Africa under the authority of World Rugby, which is the world governing body of rugby union. , Rugby Africa has 37 member nations and runs several rugby tournaments ...
tournaments

Ghana Rugby has competed in Rugby Africa tournaments since 2003.Rugby Data
"Games played by Ghana"
Internet. Retrieved 1 July 2017. Over the period 2003 to 2017 Ghana Rugby played 34 international matches of which it won 14, lost 17 and drew 3. The total point scored by Ghana Rugby was 438 with 425 scored against it.

2017 Men's 15s

* 30 April 2017 Ghana 46 - 5 Benin * 7 May 2017 Ghana 10 - 0 Togo Ghana wins the Rugby Afrique 2017 Regional Challenge - Group West 1

2016 Men's 7s

* 27 May 2016 Mali 0 - 15 Ghana * 27 May 2016 Ghana 19 - 0 Benin * 27 May 2016 Ghana 19 - 22 Togo Semifinal * 27 May 2016 Niger 5 - 14 Ghana Ghana wins 3rd Place Playoff

2015 Men's 15s and 7s

Men's 15s * 24 May 2015 Niger 28 - 10 Ghana * 27 May 2015 Ghana 7 - 24 Mali * 30 May 2015 Burkina Faso 12 - 0 Ghana Men's 7s * 6 June 2015 Togo 24 - 12 Ghana * 6 June 2015 Ivory Coast 15 - 10 Ghana * 6 June 2015 Ghana 27 - 7 Mali Ghana ends 5th

2014 Men's 7s

* 17 May 2014 Mali 12 - 12 Ghana * 17 May 2014 Niger 0 - 10 Ghana * 17 May 2014 Ghana 33 - 0 Benin * 17 May 2014 Togo 0 - 40 Ghana * 18 May 2014 Burkina Faso 25 - 5 Ghana

2011 Men's 15s

* 24 July 2011 Benin 7 - 16 Ghana * 27 July 2011 Mali 28 - 3 Ghana * 30 July 2011 Burkina Faso 15 - 3 Ghana

2010 Men's 15s

* 24 July 2010 Mali 17 - 8 Ghana

2009 Men's 15s

* 13 July 2009 Ghana 5 - 5 Nigeria * 15 July 2009 Ghana 17 - 7 Burkina Faso * 18 July 2009 Niger 5 - 3 Ghana

2008 Men's 15s

* 23 June 2008 Ghana 17 - 8 Chad * 27 June 2008 Ghana 8 - 9 Burkina Faso * 29 June 2008 Ghana 27 - 6 Togo

2004 Men's 15s

* 29 June 2004 Ghana 0 - 20 Nigeria * 1 July 2004 Togo 15 - 5 Ghana * 3 July 2004 Ghana 3 - 3 Benin

2003 Men's 15s

* 10 Oct 2003 Ghana 29 - 8 Mauritania * 10 Oct 2003 Ghana 3 - 40 Cameroon * 10 Oct 2003 Ghana 14 - 9 Togo * 10 Oct 2003 Ghana 3 - 29 Nigeria

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghana Rugby Association Sports organizations established in 2003 2003 establishments in Ghana Rugby union governing bodies in Africa Rugby union in Ghana

Rugby Rugby may refer to: Sport * Rugby football in many forms: ** Rugby league: 13 players per side *** Masters Rugby League *** Mod league *** Rugby league nines *** Rugby league sevens *** Touch (sport) *** Wheelchair rugby league ** Rugby union: 1 ...

Herbert Mensah Herbert Amponsah Mensah is a Ghanaian businessman, sports administrator, and the President of World Rugby’s African association, Rugby Africa, the governing body of Rugby in Africa. He is also the presidentMyjoyonline"Herbert Mensah elected as n ... Presidency - since 5 June 2014