Rugby clubs and stakeholders in Nigeria have been barred from embarking on international trips without prior approval from relevant associations for the sport in their states or the national body.
Sports247 reports that this directive was issued by the president of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are, who stressed that proper regulations have to be put in place to promote further growth of the sport.
Are added that organisational rules and regulations will henceforth be strictly applied to bring sanity into the administration of rugby in Nigeria, which he added is a task that everyone involved in the sport must key into.
He then charged all rugby clubs, groups and stakeholders to support proper regulations in the sport by affiliating with the relevant state association nearest to them, in the same way it is done for football
While warning that anyone who fails to key into the new directive would be working against the NRFF’s aspirations, Are added that lack of support could ultimately hinder the development of Nigerian rugby.
He cited complaints from sports directors and commissioners in some states regarding clubs operating outside their structures, then called for greater cooperation to ensure wider acceptance for rugby in Nigeria.
Are also asserted that the absence of rugby as a medal-scoring event at the National Sports Festival is due to a lack of support from stakeholders at the grassroots level all across the country.
The NRFF’s supremo added that, in order to promote stronger development of rugby in Nigeria, clubs seeking recognition at the national level must first establish proper affiliations with their respective state associations.
“To get into the national federation, you need to align with state associations. Unfortunately, some club owners are not doing this, yet they want to travel abroad to represent the country.
“They keep forgetting the basic things, which makes them work at cross purposes with the federation, and it is rugby that suffers (due to such actions).
“We are fighting to get rugby into the National Youth Games and the National Sports Festival because some stakeholders have refused to work with their state associations and sports councils.
“If they did, it would be easier for the sport to gain wider acceptance, and we would not need to fight every time for recognition. Unfortunately, that is the situation in some states,” Are pointed out.
He concluded with an emphatic declaration that the NRFF will formally inform foreign embassies in Nigeria not to honour requests for entry visas that are submitted by anyone involved in rugby but lacks clearance from state associations.
“We are going to ensure that embassies no longer recognise the international travel of any rugby club without a letter of introduction and clearance from the relevant state association and the national federation, just as it is done in football.
“Enough of this disregard for constituted authority. All stakeholders must respect the structures put in place for the proper administration and development of rugby in Nigeria,” Are submitted.
