By Victor Kanayo
Organisers have reinstated rugby in the National Sports Festival (NSF), with the latest edition slated for May 2025 in Ogun State, Nigeria.
This was disclosed by the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) in a statement made available to Heritage Times HT on Tuesday evening.
Part of the statement reads: “This decision comes following the approval of the Joint Technical Committee for the 22nd edition of the National Sports Festival, who unanimously agreed on the inclusion of rugby after thorough evaluation. The committee cited the game’s rising popularity, increased grassroots participation, and growing national followership as key factors behind this reinstatement.”
Reacting, NRFF President, Dr Ademola Are, commended the vision, commitment, and readiness of the government to support the evolution and diversification of sports in Nigeria.
According to Dr Are, the return of rugby to the festival is not just a win for the sport, but a golden opportunity for talent discovery and national team development.
“With this development, Nigerians can once again experience the thrill of top-level rugby at the festival. More importantly, national team selectors will be present at the games to scout for promising talents as we prepare for the prestigious Africa Cup Sevens, scheduled to hold in Mauritius from 18 to 23 June 2025,” he stated.
The readmittance of rugby into the festival’s roster is expected to bring renewed excitement to rugby fans and stakeholders across the country.
It marks a promising step forward in the sport’s growth trajectory and underscores the NSF’s role as a catalyst for talent discovery and sports development in Nigeria.
The NSF is scheduled to take place between 16 and 31 May 2025.
