Local rugby pwerhouses Lions de Fer and 1000 Hills dominated the 2025 Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) rugby tournament as they claimed trophies in men's and women's categories respectively. The one-day tournament took place at Amahoro Stadium for the first time since the 45,000-seat facility was inaugurated in July 2024. Now in its 11th edition, the rugby event is organised annually by the Rwanda Rugby Federation (RRF) in collaboration with the Rwanda National Olympic and Sports Committee (RNOSC) as part of the initiative to commemorate the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi through sports. It featured 21 teams—14 of which were in the men's category and seven in women's category. Neighbouring countries Uganda and South Sudan were also represented. ALSO READ: Lions de Fer, Resilience win rugby 7s tourney In a tightly contested men's final, Lions de Fer emerged victorious with a 14-07 win over Rams RFC. In the women's championship match, 1000 Hills Rugby lifted the trophy after a dominant 40-07 win over Gitisi TSS in the final. 1000 Hills Rugby and Resilience RFC took home the third place in men’s and women’s categories respectively. Ernestine Uwera of Gitisi TSS was named the women's Most Valuable Player (MVP), while Jugo Ryan of Rams RFC took the prize in men’s competition. ALSO READ: What Manny Rugamba’s journey in American football suggests about our sports prospects After the awarding ceremony Tharcisse Kamanda, commended Rwandan teams for improving their level of performance at this year’s competition after foreign teams won both trophies in the previous edition. “We’re going to reinforce by increasing rugby tournaments within the country but also attending regional ones for testing our national level,” Kamanda said.
