Calabar:Nigerian rugby has made strides in recent years with programs aimed at children and teenagers, integrating the sport into schools and youth competitions nationwide. However, once players finish school, the pathway becomes uncertain, presenting an opportunity for universities to play a pivotal role.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, university rugby offers what the senior game in Nigeria struggles to provide: regular matches for players at a critical developmental age, supported by coaching, facilities, and an academic framework that ensures stability.
South Africa serves as a successful example, with its Varsity Cup competitions gaining coverage from major rugby outlets and producing players for the Springboks. Such a pipeline begins with consistent, well-organized competitions.
Nigerian rugby made significant progress when it was included in the Nigerian University Games, the premier multi-sport event for students in the country. Federation president Ademola Are noted that this development was partly due to ongoing collaboration with NUGA to broaden rugby’s reach in universities.
With the University of Calabar set to host the next edition of the games in November, rugby now has a formal presence in university sports, offering a platform for clubs and selectors to expand upon.
However, the inclusion in the university games is just a starting point, as the necessary structures to create a true development pathway are still lacking. There is an absence of a regular inter-university competition to channel players into clubs, and the youth calendar largely ends at the under-18 level.
This gap was evident when Nigeria was absent from the FISU World University Championship Sevens in Stellenbosch, despite participation from Uganda and Zimbabwe. Kenya provides a closer model with university teams now established in its top domestic league, illustrating a potential path forward for Nigeria.
Universities already gather young, athletic individuals together for several years, and rugby only requires space, coaching, and a schedule of fixtures. Establishing this connection could see students leave university not only as graduates but as players, coaches, and administrators ready to introduce rugby to new communities.