NRFF Independence Rugby Sevens Championship gets new date

Teams from South Africa, U.K., Ghana expected in Nigeria
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has revealed that the Independence Sevens Rugby Championship earlier slated to hold in the first week of October at the Onikan Stadium, Lagos, has been postponed to October 24 and 25 due to logistic reasons.

NRFF’s Vice President, Fasimoye Olatunji, at the weekend disclosed that the shift in the date was to afford the foreign teams billed to take part at the championship have enough time to process their traveling documents. He added that the federation was making necessary arrangements to ensure all participants got the best treatment.
“You should understand that the rugby sevens championship is an international event. NRFF postponed the championship to give the foreign teams ample time to sort all pending visa issues, this will ensure every team gets the opportunity to participate and make the tournament a memorable one,” Olatunji said.
Rugby sevens, a tournament held annually to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary, was started in 2009 by “The Friends of Rugby” and has since grown to be the biggest Rugby Sevens event in West Africa.

The 2013 edition had a wider international participation with clubs from the United Kingdom, Egypt and Ghana.
According to the organisers, this year’s edition promises to be bigger and better as DHL Western Province 7s team from South Africa and more Rugby clubs from Europe and West Africa would be participating.

Meanwhile, in accordance with the directive of the organisers of the prestigious Nigerian Sports Awards, the NRFF has called on all sports loving Nigerians and sports enthusiasts to nominate the federation as the Ball Sport of the year and also Administrator of the year for 2014/2015.

According to the President of the Federation, Sir Fom Edward Pam, being nominated and winning the 2015 award will be “an icing on the cake” considering the lofty achievements recorded by the federation despite the poor level of support given to rugby by the National Sports Commission and the Ministry of Sports.