The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has once again demonstrated its commitment to advancing rugby in Nigeria through the successful completion of the Rugby Rising Play – T1 Rugby Coaches Training Course, held in Abuja. The program, which aimed at enhancing the skills and knowledge of rugby coaches from across the country, saw energetic participation from coaches from Osun and other states, who left with valuable new insights and practical tools for grassroots rugby development.
Dr. Ademola Are, President of the NRFF, hailed the training as a vital initiative in expanding the reach of rugby, especially among women and girls, across Nigeria. In his remarks at the end of the program, Dr. Are emphasized the importance of the program as part of a broader strategy to build the sport from the ground up.
“We are grateful to World Rugby for their continued support,” Dr. Are stated. “This is our second program of this kind, and it has equipped more coaches with the necessary knowledge to grow the game—particularly among girls. The fact that eleven female coaches participated is a significant milestone, and we are confident this will have a positive impact on boosting the involvement of young girls in rugby.”
Wuraola Hussain, the Rugby Rising Play Supervisor and NRFF board member, expressed her pride in the enthusiasm of the participants. Hussain, who also serves as an educator for rugby coaches, stressed that while the course was a critical first step, the true work begins now as coaches return to their respective states to implement what they’ve learned.
“This is just the first phase,” Hussain explained. “Each coach must now go back to their states and begin introducing rugby to children, particularly girls. Our goal is for every coach to introduce at least 300 kids to rugby through this program. I will be monitoring their progress closely and remain available to support them in any way I can.”
A key feature of the training was the distribution of Rugby Rising Play kits, which included essential equipment such as balls, cones, inflators, whistles, and bibs. These kits are designed to provide the coaches with the practical tools they need to effectively run their training sessions and foster the growth of the sport at the grassroots level.
One of the coaches benefiting from this program was Sunday Olawale, Osun State Rugby Coach. Olawale, who recently completed the NRFF-certified coaching program, expressed his commitment to applying the skills and knowledge gained to further develop rugby in Osun. “With the strong backing of the NRFF, I will do everything within my power to introduce and grow rugby in Osun State,” he said. “Osun is one of the states taking rugby seriously, and we have already made great strides, qualifying as one of the Southwest teams during the Southwest Zonal elimination playoffs in Ibadan earlier this year for the National Youth Games in Asaba.”
Olawale was also grateful for the support provided by the NRFF, which donated a full set of rugby training equipment to help launch the sport at the grassroots level in Osun. The donation underscores the NRFF’s commitment to ensuring that rugby continues to thrive in Nigeria, especially among young athletes eager to make their mark in the sport.
The Rugby Rising Play initiative remains a flagship effort of the NRFF, with a strong focus on advancing female participation, developing leadership, and nurturing the next generation of rugby talent in Nigeria. As the program progresses, it is expected that the ripple effects will be felt across the nation, with coaches and players alike taking steps toward representing Nigeria on both the continental and global stages.
