President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr Ademola Are, has assured rugby players and enthusiasts across the country that the sport will feature at the 2026 National Sports Festival scheduled to hold in Enugu.
Dr Are gave this assurance following the controversial exclusion of rugby from the 2024 edition of the festival, despite its earlier inclusion on the official programme.
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The sudden omission sparked widespread disappointment within the rugby community and raised concerns about the sport’s visibility in Nigeria’s multi-sport events.
In response, Dr Are stated that the NRFF is fully committed to restoring rugby to its rightful place in the national sporting calendar.
“Rugby will return at the 2026 National Sports Festival,” Dr Are declared. “We understand the concerns of players, coaches, and stakeholders who were affected by the last-minute decision in 2024.
That is why we are engaging all relevant authorities and ensuring that such an exclusion does not happen again.”
He emphasized that the Federation is working closely with the Federal Ministry of Sports, state sports councils, and festival organizers to guarantee rugby’s full participation in future editions of the National Sports Festival.
The NRFF president further reiterated the Federation’s broader vision to grow the sport at the grassroots and elite levels, stressing that consistent festival participation is a key pathway for talent discovery and development.
Rugby’s exclusion in 2024 was widely criticized, especially as the sport had gained momentum in recent years with increased youth participation and improved national team performances. Dr Are’s statement offers renewed hope to the rugby community, as preparations for Enugu 2026 begin in earnest.
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