Rugby Included as South West States Gear Up for Regional Games
Rugby has been officially listed as one of the sports to feature at the forthcoming South West Zonal Games, marking another significant step forward for the development of the sport in Nigeria.
In a memo addressed to participating states, the South West Zonal Representative, AFN Olalekan Soetan, urged all contingents to intensify preparations ahead of the competition. He emphasized the importance of early readiness, proper coordination, and strong participation to ensure a successful and competitive regional outing.
The inclusion of rugby in the zonal games represents a major boost for the sport’s growth in the country. It complements the sustained efforts of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation to expand the game at both grassroots and national levels. Over the past few years, the federation has pursued deliberate development initiatives aimed at increasing participation, strengthening domestic structures, and raising the overall standard of play.
The President of the federation, Dr. Ademola Are, has also taken proactive steps to broaden rugby’s footprint across multi-sport events nationwide. Modalities have already been worked out with the organisers of the Niger Delta Games to include rugby in the next edition—an initiative that has received official endorsement.
Furthermore, concerted efforts are ongoing to ensure that rugby is included in the upcoming National Sports Festival to be hosted by Enugu. If confirmed, this would provide another strategic platform to showcase the sport’s growing appeal and competitive depth across Nigeria.
Collectively, these developments signal renewed momentum for rugby’s expansion, reinforcing the federation’s vision of establishing the sport as a strong and sustainable part of Nigeria’s sporting landscape.