The Nation Newspaper

Tag: NRFF

  • NRFF to Hold Athletes’ and Technical Representatives Election Sept.19

    NRFF to Hold Athletes’ and Technical Representatives Election Sept.19

    The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has confirmed that elections into the positions of Athletes’ and Technical Representatives will be held on Friday, September 19, 2025.

    In a statement signed by the federation’s secretary, the polls are scheduled to take place at the Media Centre of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

    Read Also: FIFA to distribute record $355 million to clubs for 2026 World Cup

    The NRFF noted that nomination forms and eligibility criteria for interested candidates had earlier been circulated in accordance with guidelines recently issued by the National Sports Commission.

    The forthcoming election is seen as a major milestone for the rugby body, with expectations that it will usher in one of the smoothest transitions in recent years while boosting hopes of stability and renewed progress within the federation.

  • Lagos Rugby Union League kicks off on Saturday

    The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has revealed that the Lagos Men’s Rugby Union League will kick off on Saturday 13th April 2019 at the main bowl National Stadium, Lagos.

    Acting Technical Director; Dele Coker expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the Silver Cup by Rugby Africa.

    “The Silver Cup cancellation is now behind us meaning we can now focus on local rugby.”

    He further revealed that the previous season witnessed many innovations, including the division of the competition into two which made room for four teams in the Premier division and three in division two. He added that management has altered the format this year to keep all teams in the same division to foster improvement and increase the game time of all the teams.

    “We must see rugby as entertainment. Every club must know that it is a fun sport.  The players, coaches and referees must play more games and work together to put up a good show for rugby fans. Thanks to CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited for their continued support,” says Coker.

    The three matches will be played at the National Stadium main bowl on Saturday from 11 am to 5pm with the first game involving last season’s champions Cowrie Rugby Club from Victoria Island facing Eco II Rugby Club from Olodi Apapa.

    Other games will see last season’s third placed team, Nigeria Police Rugby club play Gosar Rugby Club and Kings College Old Boys will play Lagos Rugby Club in the last match of the day.

    NRFF’s General Manager added that the Northern league which is the oldest in the country will kick off during the raining season due to the tough grounds and the South South/ South East League will kick off next month.

  • NRFF names squad for Africa Men’s Regional tournament

    The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has named 17 Black Stallions players including three foreign based for the forthcoming Africa Men’s Regional tournament.

    The Tournament billed to hold in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire, from September 15 to 16, will also serve as 2020 Olympic pre qualifiers and 2019 All Africa Games qualifier.

    The players invited are;‎ Isaac Sani (Cowrie), Christian Ogar (Cowrie), Osarobo Festus (RocketBull), Samuel Ekpo (Cowrie ), Azeez Lapido (Cowrie) will be given time till Monday to prove fitness due to injury.

    Thankgod Okafor (RC Montemor, Portugal), Danjuma Mashiela (Dings Crusaders, UK), Monday Alex (Racing), Hassan Mohammed (Cowrie), Joseph Mogaji (7sirs, UK), Jeremiah Peter (Kings College Old Boys).

    Other are; Nuhu Ibrahim (Barewa), Joshua Etim (Barewa), Onoru Jatto (Cowrie),Alfred Oche (Cowrie), Jude Abrakson (Barewa) and Yannick Mukoro (Eco II).

    The ‎Technical Director of NRFF, Ntiense Williams;‎ Strenght & Conditioning Coach, Isaac Amadi and team Doctor, Bukola Bojuwoye are other members of the team.

    The national team Coach Bronson Weir said the camp will hold from September 5 to 12 in Lagos.

    “In this Black Stallions squad, we have an extremely talented group of players with the right mix of experience and youth,” begins the former Kenya and Ugandan National Team coach.

    ”I’m looking forward to seeing what the team can produce in Abidjan next weekend. The foreign based players will make a big difference.

    ”Dajuma Mshelia has blistering pace and will be vital to the team, Temi Okenla got injured during a pre-season match with his club and is out.

    ”Experienced playmaker and captain; Azeez Ladipo is also a doubt due to injury he sustained on Saturday at training.

    ”However, we will not lack pace at all as we still have our wing men Chistian Ogar and Onoru Jatto.

    ”Finally, Joseph Mogaji, Yannick Mukoro and Isaac Sani will bring in power play onto the squad,” Weir, who had previously coached South African National sevens student teams said.

  • Rugby announces new date for Africa bronze cup

    Rugby announces new date for Africa bronze cup

    Rugby Africa on Tuesday announced new dates in May for the Africa Bronze Cup earlier scheduled for March in Cameroon, the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation’s (NRFF) Media Department has said.

    The tournament which will feature Nigeria, Algeria and Cameroon, scheduled for March 17 to March 26, will now hold from May 7 to May 13.

    The NRFF which announced the dates in a statement on Tuesday in Lagos, said that the tier three event now known as “Bronze Cup’’ will consist of six teams, divided into Group North and Group South.

    The Northern group consists of Nigeria, runners up of 2016’s Division 1C, Algeria and Cameroon both returning after not competing in the competition in 2016.

    The southern group tournament which will take place immediately after that of the north will be made up of Zambia, relegated from Division 1B, Mauritius from Division 1C and Rwanda.

    Rwanda recently attained full membership of World Rugby and only one team with most points will climb up to the Silver Cup in 2018.

    The statement quoted Olatunji Fasimoye, the Olatunji Fasimoye as saying that Nigeria had huge opportunity to be promoted this year judging by level of its players’ development.

    “Already we have been going round scouting for players and we will open camp early in April in preparation for the event.

    “We will be engaging mostly the home-based players following our quest to develop the sport locally which has paid off in so many aspects,’’ the statement quoted Fasimoye as saying.

  • NRFF releases 14-man list for Olympics qualifiers

    NRFF releases 14-man list for Olympics qualifiers

    In line with their promise and drive to qualify for the 2016 Olympics, the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation Technical Committee has released a strong 14-man list for next month’s qualifiers in South Africa.

    Arising from their technical meeting held on Tuesday in Lagos, the federation listed Nigeria’s rugby golden boy and speedster, Christian Ogar (Cowrie RFC), Nuhu Ibrahim Samaila (Barewa RFC), Alfred Oche (Jos RFC), Onoru Oyiza Jatto (Cowrie RFC), Samuel Ekpo (Cowrie RFC), Hafis Ayinla (Cowrie RFC) as part of the team to be captained by Azeez Ladipo (Cowrie RFC).

    Determined to have a blend of homegrown and foreign based-players, three players were invited from the United Kingdom, two from the United States of America and one from South Africa, most of whom were discovered at the recently held President Cup international invitational tournament.

    The Onwukanjo brothers may be in line to feature for the national team together for the first time following the decision of the federation to extend an invitation to Onyinye Onwukanjo (Davenport University Rugby, USA) and Ike Onwukanjo (USA Northeast Olympic Academy).

    Other foreign-based players are Omotohunola Odulaja (Old Blues RFC, UK), Ayomide Joseph Mogaji (Doking RFC UK), Danjuma Mshelia (Richmond RFC, UK) and Thankgod Okafor (Sharks RFC South Africa)

    In a statement made available to the federation’s media department, NRFF Technical Director, Fasimoye Olatunji, Technical Adviser, Bandele Coker and Team Doctor, Bukola Bojuwoye will be part of the 19 man delegation to South Africa.

    The delegation which will be led by President of the federation, Edward Pam Fom will leave Lagos on the 8th of November for the tournament slated for the 14th and 15th of November Johannesburg.

    Head coach and South African Rugby 7s legend, Fabian Juries and all invited foreign players will join the local boys in Johannesburg on the 9th for the 5 days training ahead of the qualifiers.

    Nigeria is drawn alongside Zimbabwe, Uganda and Zambia in Pool B.

  • AFRICAN GAMES 2015: NRFF sad over last minute exclusion

    AFRICAN GAMES 2015: NRFF sad over last minute exclusion

    The President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Sir Edward Pam Fom has expressed surprise at the last minute removal of the sport from events to feature at the 2015 Africa Games scheduled for Congo next year. Having already qualified for the games at the qualifiers in  Togo, Pam Fom wondered why the organisers allowed participating teams to waste their time and resources to prepare and play the qualifiers when there was no concrete plan for the sport which is fast becoming popular in Africa.

    In the same vein, the federation’s Vice President and Technical Director, Fasimoye Olatunji, described the exclusion of the sport from the 50th edition of the AAG as a devastating blow for the federation after their 2012 Commonwealth games exclusion on the insistence of the National Sports Commission (NSC) and the Nigeria Olympics Commission despite their qualification.

    Fasimoye said the federation saw the AAG participation as a proper avenue to prepare for the 2016 Olympics games qualifiers in South Africa later this year and also as a launch pad for the Black Stallions on the international scene.

    He  appealed to all stakeholders who were looking out for the national team‘s participation at the games never to give up over what he described as a “minor setback” in the wheel of progress of the sport in Nigeria promising that nothing will stop the federation from repositioning Rugby in the country.