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 49 (120 (24t))
Correct as of 23 December 2024
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.