Nigerian Rugby Federation Pledges To Revitalize Domestic League After Africa Sevens

By Saheed Afolabi

Following the Nigeria Stallions’ 7th-place finish at the recent Africa Men’s Rugby Sevens Championship in Cape Town, South Africa, the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Ademola Aare, has committed to revitalizing the nation’s domestic rugby league.

Despite facing Africa’s top rugby nations like South Africa, Kenya, and Uganda, the Nigerian team struggled with consistency. Aare called the performance encouraging but stressed the immediate need to focus on grassroots development and expand the player base from within Nigeria.

“Our performance showed promise, but to compete at a higher level, we need more players from the local scene, a functional domestic league, and increased funding,” Aare said.

He emphasized that while the team’s progress is commendable, relying heavily on foreign-based players is not a sustainable path to success. The NRFF plans to relaunch the National Rugby League later this year and introduce regional tournaments to find and develop local talent.

Nigeria’s participation in the Africa Sevens was a strategic move to establish the country as a strong rugby nation on the continent. The tournament also served as a qualifier for future international competitions, and Aare is confident that with proper investment, Nigeria can reach that level.

“The boys performed well considering our challenges, but we need consistency and structure. Rugby is growing in Nigeria, and it’s time to support that growth with institutional backing.”

Aare called on corporate sponsors, government bodies, and other stakeholders to support the federation’s domestic agenda, highlighting rugby’s potential to become a globally competitive sport for Nigeria.

The NRFF is expected to unveil a new strategic roadmap by the end of July 2025 to guide its long-term development and its quest for Olympic qualification.