Rugby Federation invites three foreign-based players to Rugby Sevens Squad

Richmond RFC winger, Danjuma Mshelia, a scrumhalf from Gravesend RFC and Temitope Okenla, who plies his trade in the United Kingdom, have been invited to join the Black Stallions Sevens squad for All Africa Games and Olympics pre-qualifiers in Lome, Togo next month.

According to the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Mshelia and the unnamed scrumhalf were involved in the Black Stallions team in 2013 at the Mombasa Sports Club, Kenya when Nigeria reached the plate semifinals at the CAR 7s in which Mshelia scored a try against Kenya Shujaa that aided Nigeria’s qualification for the plate semi final in the Tournament.

The Nigeria Rugby Federation (NRFF) had earlier extended invitation to America-based Ike Onwukanjo, who plays for University of Buffalo junior RFC. Onwukanjo holds a dual United States and Nigerian citizenship.

The Federation has been scouting for foreign-based players eligible to compete for Nigeria as a way to boost the national team’s efforts to qualify for the Rio Olympics.

Nigeria will face Ghana, Morocco, Cote d’Ivoire, Mali and host Togo in the Tournament to be held 6th June