Gabriel Ibitoye
{{Short description|English rugby union player}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name = Gabriel Ibitoye
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_name = {{nowrap|Gabriel Oluwatimilehin Kayode Ibitoye}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1998|3|5|df=y}}
| birth_place = Lambeth, England, United Kingdom
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height = {{convert|5|ft|10|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{convert|15|st|1|lb|kg|abbr=on}}
| school = Trinity School
| university =
| position = Wing
| currentclub = Bristol Bears
| years1 = 2015–2020
| clubs1 = Harlequins
| apps1 = 44
| points1 = 70
| years2 = 2016–2017
| clubs2 = → Esher
| apps2 = 14
| points2 = 15
| years3 = 2020
| clubs3 = Agen
| apps3 = 6
| points3 = 10
| years4 = 2021
| clubs4 = Montpellier
| apps4 = 3
| points4 = 0
| years5 = 2021–2022
| clubs5 = Tel Aviv Heat
| apps5 = -
| points5 = -
| years6 = 2022–
| clubs6 = Bristol Bears
| apps6 = 49
| points6 = 120
| repyears1 = 2015–2016
| repteam1 = England U18
| repcaps1 = 10
| reppoints1 = 40
| repyears2 = 2017–2018
| repteam2 = England U20
| repcaps2 = 17
| reppoints2 = 50
| repyears3 = 2024
| repteam3 = England 'A'
| repcaps3 = 1
| reppoints3 = 0
| clubupdate = 23 December 2024
| repupdate = 30 July 2019
}}
Gabriel Oluwatimilehin Kayode Ibitoye (born 5 March 1998){{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/player/294177.html|title=Gabriel Ibitoye ESPN profile|publisher=ESPN|access-date=30 July 2019}} is a British English professional rugby union player for Bristol Bears in Premiership Rugby. His primary position is wing.
Career
Ibitoye began playing rugby at Trinity School aged eleven.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/schools-hosting-world-cup-teams-inspire-us-to-try-for-rugby-success-a2954986.html|title=Schools hosting World Cup teams inspire us to try for rugby success|work=Evening Standard|date=24 September 2015|access-date=12 August 2023}} Initially a forward, he later moved to the centres and then wing.{{cite web|url=https://www.rugbyworld.com/in-the-mag/hotshots/harlequins-england-u20-wing-gabriel-ibitoye-93575|work=Rugby World|title=Hotshot: Harlequins and England U20 wing Gabriel Ibitoye|date=28 August 2018|access-date=30 July 2019}} His first club was Bromley R.F.C.{{cite news|url=https://berugbymagazine.com/the-berugby-big-interview-with-quins-gabriel-ibitoye-and-aaron-morris/|work=Be Rugby|date=28 April 2019|access-date=30 July 2019|title=The BeRugby Big Interview, with Harlequin's Gabriel Ibitoye and Aaron Morris.}}
In 2015 and 2016 Ibitoye represented the England under-18 team. He was a member of the squad that completed a grand slam in the 2017 Six Nations Under 20s Championship. Later that year he scored tries against Wales and Australia during the pool stage of the 2017 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/40142827|publisher=BBC Sport|date=4 June 2017|access-date=12 August 2023|title=World Rugby Under-20s: England 34-22 Wales}} He started in the final of the tournament as England were defeated by New Zealand.{{cite web|url=https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/gloucester-youngster-goes-injured-england-119235|title=England suffer record defeat in World Rugby U20 Championship final|first=Robert|last=Iles|date=18 June 2017|access-date=12 August 2023|website=Gloucestershire Live}}
Ibitoye competed in the 2018 U20 Six Nations scoring in their last fixture against Ireland.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.ie/sport/rugby/englands-under-20s-overwhelm-ireland-to-secure-a-big-win-at-the-ricoh-arena/36713772.html|title=England's Under-20s overwhelm Ireland to secure a big win at the Ricoh Arena|first=Cian|last=Tracey|date=16 March 2018|access-date=12 August 2023|website=Irish Independent}} He was included in the squad for the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship and scored two tries in a victory over Scotland.{{cite news|url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/scotland-u20-10-35-england-u20-young-scots-face-relegation-battle-283387|publisher=The Scotsman|date=7 June 2018|access-date=12 August 2023|title=Scotland U20 10-35 England U20}} He started in the junior world cup final for a consecutive year as England finished runners up to hosts France.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/44515188|publisher=BBC Sport|date=17 June 2018|access-date=12 August 2023|title=World Rugby U20 Championship: England lose out to France in final}} In February 2018 Ibitoye was called up by coach Eddie Jones to train with the senior squad.
Ibitoye joined Harlequins academy at the age of twelve.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/53640234|title=Gabriel Ibitoye: Harlequins winger moves to French Top 14 club Agen|work=BBC Sport|date=3 August 2020|access-date=12 August 2023}} He made his club debut in November 2017 against Saracens.{{Cite web |last=Morgan|first=Charlie|title=Exclusive interview: Latest England 'apprentice' Gabriel Ibitoye eager to keep honing try-scoring instincts|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/rugby-union/2018/02/13/exclusive-interview-latest-england-apprentice-gabriel-ibitoye/|url-access=subscription|date=13 February 2018|access-date=12 August 2023|website=The Daily Telegraph}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/news/gabriel-ibitoye-signs-two-year-deal-with-agen/628792|publisher=Ultimate Rugby|title=Gabriel Ibitoye signs two-year deal with Agen|date=29 July 2020|access-date=29 September 2020}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ex-harlequins-winger-ibitoye-voted-the-top-14s-biggest-2020-21-new-signing-flop-agen/|publisher=Rugby Pass|title=Gabriel Ibitoye, who has gone from Harlequins to Agen and now on to Montpellier, voted Top 14's biggest 2020/21 new signing flop|date=15 January 2021|access-date=21 January 2021}} Following the end of his contract at Montpellier, he signed with Israeli side Tel Aviv Heat.{{Cite web |title=Ex-England prospect Gabriel Ibitoye makes shock Tel Aviv switch |url=https://www.rugbypass.com/news/ex-england-prospect-gabriel-ibitoye-makes-shock-tel-aviv-switch/ |access-date=2022-04-20 |website=www.rugbypass.com |date=28 September 2021 |language=en}}
Ibitoye was signed by Bristol Bears for the 2022–2023 season.{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/60987164|title=Bristol Bears sign Gabriel Ibitoye & James Williams for 2022-23 season|work=BBC Sport|date=4 April 2022|access-date=20 April 2022}} He was the joint top try scorer in the normal Premiership season in 2024–25, with 13 tries, tied with Ollie Hassell-Collins of Leicester Tigers. This was also key to Bristol Bears record setting 16 try bonus points from 18 games, beating Exeter Chiefs previous record of 15 in 22 matches.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Bristol Bears squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ibitoye, Gabriel}}
Category:English rugby union players
Category:Harlequin F.C. players
Category:Rugby union players from the London Borough of Lambeth
Category:SU Agen Lot-et-Garonne players
Category:Montpellier Hérault Rugby players
Category:Tel Aviv Heat players
Category:Expatriate rugby union players in Israel
Category:Bristol Bears players
Category:English expatriate rugby union players in France
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in Israel