A fast-rising home-based rugby talent, Daniel John has made a bold statement for the domestic game by emerging as most valuable player in Nigeria’s squad to the recent sevens championship in Kampala, Uganda.
Sports247 gathered that, against all odds and in the midst of Nigeria’s players of higher status than hIm, Daniel put up sensational displays for the Stallions in all their games on Saturday and Sunday.
A report about Nigeria’s outing at the 2026 Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Series in Kampala, Uganda revealed that Daniel, one of two domestic players in the Stallions’ squad, beat several foreign-based professionals to win the honour with a hat-trick Trys.
The Cowrie RFC back, who also plays for Wolverines, Showtime Flag Football in Lagos and Edo State Rugby team, delivered a brilliant all-round display across two days of intense Sevens rugby, scoring 3 Trys and a beautiful solo run Try against Senegal to impress the organisers in getting the MVP award for Nigeria.
The report by Nigeria Rugby Media noted thst Daniel’s MVP award is a powerful statement against the absence of players from the national rugby league, President’s Cup and domestic Sevens circuit in Nigeria’s team for over four years.
A renowned stakeholder of the game, Obong Ntiense Williams (aka Mr Rugby) added: “Daniel’s award is not just a personal victory; it is a victory for every player training on empty fields in Lagos, Port Harcourt and Jos, just to mention a few without a league to play in.
“If one of the two home-based player can be MVP in an Africa Tournament, imagine what ten, twenty home-based players can do if we give them a proper national league and opportunities.”
Williams went on to note various implications of the youngster’s award, regarding the development of home grown talent, and firmly asserted: “Daniel John’s MVP proves Nigeria does not need to depend 100% on diaspora players.
“Talent exists at home (but) without a league, we cannot discover the next Daniel John. A national 15s league and national Sevens circuit are critical to build depth for the Stallions (who) have done their part in Kampala.
“They have improved their ranking and raised our flag with a home-based hero as MVP, though it was with a leaser pool of teams. Nigeria cannot continue to represent Africa with only two home-based player. We must produce more Daniel Johns in the Stalions.”
