Rugby World Series: Nigeria female team can shock bookmakers in Canada, says Cole

With Rugby determined to raise its head above the parapets of neglect, and gain more followership in the new year after the female became the first African side to qualify for the World Series in Canada, Biodun Olawole Cole, Chairman, Nigeria Rugby League Association (NRLA) opens up on his vision for the game in the country, his quest to ensure Nigeria becomes a full member of International Rugby Association (IRA), and women national team’s chances at upcoming World Series in this exclusive interview with David Meshioye

Nigeria is known for its love and preference for football while Basketball is currently being embraced after DTigress; feat at the last Olympics in Paris. How challenging and bumpy has it been trying to sell rugby to Nigerians?
Honestly, you are right because whenever we post that Nigeria just won this competition, everybody says” so you play rugby in Nigeria”  the truth is that Rugby has been in Nigeria for the past 20 years, we are the Nigeria Rugby League, and we are riding on the name that the union has created for the country, but I think once sponsors start coming in as well as other supports, the sport will become even more popular. We are currently doing well on the pitch.

What would you say is the vision behind the Leve1&2 Training Course for Coaches and Referees?
We are looking forward to become members of the International Rugby Association. The benefit comes with funding and the men’s team being able to play at the World Cup. Our Women’s team has qualified for the World Series and if we can complete these courses successfully that is the only criteria we need to get accredited by the International Federation hence we invested money for referees and coaches to get this training. Also to ensure that our players who want to become coaches get the best guidance from the person who knows how to do the job, and that is the guys from the UK.

The women’s team qualified for the World Series in Canada, where does that position the Nigeria Rugby League Association?
It wasn’t easy getting the funds and players to assemble for a month before playing Kenya and Ghana last year. If you google the World Series, Nigeria comes up as the underdog and seen as the future of the game. That alone makes us feel great.

What is the preparation like for the World Series? Are you getting the right support from the Nigeria Sports Commission as you go into this tournament?
What we are doing is not just for us but the entire country. We are trying to make them understand that Nigeria has a team that is about to qualify for the World Cup. The French national team is coming to Nigeria next month to play our women. We are also looking at Ghana, hoping to play them before we travel to Canada in November. We have some sponsors who have continued to support our cause while we are still looking for more. As you know, the French team that is coming will not be camped in a nearby hotel, it has to be a Five Stars hotel which will cost millions. We will be going to Ghana by Air not by road while our trip to Canada will also cost an astronomical amounts as well. All of these we are pushing to sponsors as well as the Sports Commission to look into.

Let’s talk more about your sponsorship drives, how successful has that been so far?
We had two from last year who supported us, and I expect it to get better now that the girls have done so well. We had about 5 and we are looking to get them back on board as we prepare for the World Series in Canada. The girls’ performance will also serve as a good platform to bring in more sponsors, letting them understand why Nigerian rugby is worth investing in. We have two sponsors who have done so well for us, but we are looking forward to having more corporate bodies to bankroll the game because this is about female development through sports.

Can your girls do a Leicester at the World Series in Canada?
It is very possible because we did it against Kenya and Ghana. Besides, we have a lot of players who play professional rugby in Australia and New Zealand who are doing extremely well, and once we add them to the mix, then we have a good chance. We now have a fantastic coach, a Nigerian called Bolu from the UK and we just hired an Australian who has handled lots of Nigerians in Australia as our assistant coach. For sure we believe we have the right coaching staff and if we can mix our local girls with the international ones we know what we can do. We are the underdog and I love being an underdog because expectations are low, and that will be a game changer when we get there. We beat Ghana three times, away from home twice, and at home once and we beat Kenya once, but we won on goal difference. They are the two best teams in our region.

Tell us more about yourself and the drive behind rugby in Nigeria.
I played rugby right from my school in the UK even though I also like football too. Rugby has been part of my life right from the word go but considering my age now at 46 coupled with a series of injuries and scars on my face from playing rugby, my wife is not in support of me getting more injuries. That was how I got into managing rugby myself. But in terms of our Division, it was easy because one of our trustees Martin Crawford who is a very key player in the union space as well as Ade Adebisi called the London flier; the only player to have played professional rugby in the UK with Sickle Cell. Those two guys came up with the idea of floating a rugby league in Nigeria to give opportunities to players from the union. That’s how we got into the whole thing, I was approached one day to become the chairman which I gladly accepted. Thank God I became the chairman and I have no regret since I did.

When the time comes for you to step down as chairman of Nigeria Rugby Union, what would you like to be remembered for? What would you want your biggest achievement to be?
For me, seeing Nigeria becoming a full member of the International Rugby League Federation. Number two, our girls do a Leicester in the World Series. Also if Nigeria’s female team qualifies for the World Cup; that will be enough achievement for me and I will happily resign in peace. If we can qualify for the World Rugby World Cup, then that would the the biggest achievement for the association.

Thank you for your time

My pleasure