World Rugby has praised Nigeria for its increasing global influence in the development and adoption of T1 Rugby, identifying the country as one of the emerging success stories in the non-contact version of the sport.
In a pictorial release made available to the media, World Rugby listed Nigeria alongside nations such as England and the Netherlands as countries making notable strides in expanding T1 Rugby worldwide.
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Nigeria was specifically commended for developing a strong pool of certified World Rugby educators, significantly reducing dependence on foreign facilitators while strengthening local capacity for training delivery.
The country has also successfully organised in-person T1 Rugby courses for coaches and Physical Education teachers in Delta State, increased the number of clubs offering the sport, and expanded grassroots participation.
World Rugby further highlighted Nigeria’s sustained efforts to engage parents by promoting the safety and fun aspects of T1 Rugby, a strategy that has improved acceptance and encouraged more children to take up the game.
Reacting to the recognition, President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Ademola Are, commended stakeholders for their collective contributions to the sport’s growth.
“This recognition is the result of the support from everyone involved. While we are not yet where we want to be, the positive signs give us confidence that we will reach our goals,” Are said.
Also speaking, NRFF General Manager Azeez Ladipo described the commendation as validation of the federation’s steady progress.
“This is a testament to the level of growth we have achieved within a short period. With stronger support from both the private sector and government, we can accomplish even more,” Ladipo noted.
The NRFF continues to prioritise grassroots expansion through initiatives such as Rugby Rising Play Naija, which is creating new development pathways—particularly for the girl child—while encouraging more schools across Nigeria to adopt T1 Rugby.
