Gabriel Oluwatimilehin Kayode Ibitoye (born 5 March 1998)[1] is an English professional rugby union player for Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby. His primary position is wing.

Gabriel Ibitoye
Birth nameGabriel Oluwatimilehin Kayode Ibitoye
Date of birth (1998-03-05) 5 March 1998 (age 26)
Place of birthLambeth, England
Height5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
Weight15 st 1 lb (96 kg)
SchoolTrinity School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Bristol Bears
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2020 Harlequins 44 (70)
2016–2017Esher 14 (15)
2020 Agen 6 (10)
2021 Montpellier 3 (0)
2021–2022 Tel Aviv Heat - (-)
2022– Bristol Bears 16 (30)
Correct as of 6 May 2023
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2015–2016 England U18 10 (40)
2017–2018 England U20 17 (50)
Correct as of 30 July 2019

Career

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Ibitoye began playing rugby at Trinity School aged eleven.[2] Initially a forward, he later moved to the centres and then wing.[3] His first club was Bromley R.F.C.[4]

In 2015 and 2016 Ibitoye represented the England under-18 team.[2][5] He was a member of the squad that completed a grand slam in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship.[5] Later that year he scored tries against Wales and Australia during the pool stage of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[5][6] He started in the final of the tournament as England were defeated by New Zealand.[7]

Ibitoye competed in the 2018 U20 Six Nations scoring in their last fixture against Ireland.[8] He was included in the squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and scored two tries in a victory over Scotland.[9] He started in the junior world cup final for a consecutive year as England finished runners up to hosts France.[10] In February 2018 Ibitoye was called up by coach Eddie Jones to train with the senior squad.[5]

Ibitoye joined Harlequins academy at the age of twelve.[11] He made his club debut in November 2017 against Saracens.[5] In July 2020, it was confirmed that Ibitoye would leave Quins to join Top 14 side Agen on a two-year deal starting from the 2020–21 season.[11][12] However, he was granted mutual release from the club where he instead signed for Montpellier as a medical joker for the remainder of the 2020-21 season.[13] Following the end of his contract at Montpellier, he signed with Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat.[14][15]

Ibitoye was signed by Bristol Bears for the 2022–2023 season.[15]

References

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  1. ^ "Gabriel Ibitoye ESPN profile". ESPN. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Schools hosting World Cup teams inspire us to try for rugby success". Evening Standard. 24 September 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  3. ^ "Hotshot: Harlequins and England U20 wing Gabriel Ibitoye". Rugby World. 28 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  4. ^ "The BeRugby Big Interview, with Harlequin's Gabriel Ibitoye and Aaron Morris". Be Rugby. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e Morgan, Charlie (13 February 2018). "Exclusive interview: Latest England 'apprentice' Gabriel Ibitoye eager to keep honing try-scoring instincts". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  6. ^ "World Rugby Under-20s: England 34-22 Wales". BBC Sport. 4 June 2017. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  7. ^ Iles, Robert (18 June 2017). "England suffer record defeat in World Rugby U20 Championship final". Gloucestershire Live. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  8. ^ Tracey, Cian (16 March 2018). "England's Under-20s overwhelm Ireland to secure a big win at the Ricoh Arena". Irish Independent. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  9. ^ "Scotland U20 10-35 England U20". The Scotsman. 7 June 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  10. ^ "World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final". BBC Sport. 17 June 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  11. ^ a b "Gabriel Ibitoye: Harlequins winger moves to French Top 14 club Agen". BBC Sport. 3 August 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2023.
  12. ^ "Gabriel Ibitoye signs two-year deal with Agen". Ultimate Rugby. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  13. ^ "Gabriel Ibitoye, who has gone from Harlequins to Agen and now on to Montpellier, voted Top 14's biggest 2020/21 new signing flop". Rugby Pass. 15 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  14. ^ "Ex-England prospect Gabriel Ibitoye makes shock Tel Aviv switch". www.rugbypass.com. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b "Bristol Bears sign Gabriel Ibitoye & James Williams for 2022-23 season". BBC Sport. 4 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.