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By Our Correspondent

The President, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, NRFF, Ademola Are has stated that the sport could become as big as football in Nigeria.

The President stated this while responding to the World Rugby, WR commendation that Nigeria is among the five Nations with huge prospect for the development of the game.

“Rugby can be as big as football in Nigeria and we want every Nigeria to play the game either male or female even as we need more support. With commendation from World rugby ,it shows we are on the right path and we will continue to do the needful” he said .

WR has listed Nigeria as one of the five emerging rugby playing nations that is experiencing strong growth in the sport

According to recent statistics released by the WR, the other nations who are doing pretty much in developing rugby include: Belgium , Singapore, Ghana and Zambia

Nigeria, until last year, was under ban by World Rugby over governmental interference before the President, Dr Ademola Are set machinery in motion to ensure that the ban is lifted.

Since then the federation has organized two referees and coaching programs to keep the stakeholders abreast of the rules and training tactics of the game with instructors coming from Rugby Africa and World Rugby

The senior men national team, the Black Stallions, have also qualified for the final phase of Paris 2024 Olympic Games qualification holding in Zimbabwe this weekend after finishing second behind Algeria at pre Olympic qualifiers in Mauritius.

The federation has also gone ahead to organize National Women’s Rugby Sevens tournament in Asaba, Delta State where Edo State RFC defeated All Commers to emerge the champions