Nigeria’s senior men’s rugby sevens team, the Stallions, will begin their campaign towards a historic appearance at the 2028 Olympic Games when they compete in the World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda, from September 26 to 27.

The Nigerian side will battle Zimbabwe, Ghana and Morocco for qualification to the World Rugby HSBC SVNS 2027 circuit, with the tournament also providing an important step in Nigeria’s ambition to secure a place in rugby at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

The HSBC SVNS is World Rugby’s elite global rugby sevens circuit and world championship season, featuring regular-season tournaments across Dubai, Cape Town, Singapore, Perth, Vancouver and New York, followed by a three-leg World Championship in Hong Kong, Valladolid and Bordeaux.

For Nigeria, the Kampala qualifier represents an opportunity to build on recent progress in the development of the country’s sevens programme while strengthening its standing in African rugby.

President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr Ademola Are, said the team would approach the competition with respect for its opponents but with the determination to secure positive results.

“We expect to continue the steady progress we have been making with Nigerian 7s. We respect the quality of the teams in Uganda and know it will be a very competitive tournament, but we are going there well prepared and determined to do well,” Are said.

“We will take it one game at a time, compete hard and, as always, play to win while representing Nigeria with pride.”

Sponsor of the Stallions and founder of OHC Trade Room, Gabriel Olumide Odediran, said international success would be critical to increasing the popularity and acceptance of rugby in Nigeria, where football remains the dominant sport.

Odediran said the team’s performance in Uganda could help advance the broader objective of taking Nigerian rugby to the Olympic stage.

“Success at Uganda is the first step towards the ultimate goal of qualifying to play rugby at the Olympics in 2028, which will go a long way towards making that vision a reality,” he said.

Rugby sevens, played by seven players per side with seven-minute halves, is recognised for its fast pace and physical intensity and has become an important pathway for nations seeking to expand their presence in international rugby.

The NRFF, founded in 1998, is the governing body for rugby union in Nigeria and is affiliated with the National Sports Commission, Nigeria Olympic Committee, Rugby Africa and World Rugby