Lagos: The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) says more than 5,000 girls have participated in its ‘Rugby Rising’ programme. The federation’s media coordinator, Tolu Oguntimehin, disclosed this in a statement issued on Monday.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the initiative delivered structured, intensive training sessions nationwide, generating strong interest and significantly increasing female participation in rugby. The programme was supervised by NRFF board member, Hussain Wuraola, and implemented by 30 certified coaches across the country. Coaches took rugby to schools, community centres, and academies, ensuring sessions followed safety and development guidelines set by World Rugby.
Wuraola commended the coaches for their dedication, noting their efforts helped break cultural and social barriers limiting female participation. She added that promising talents were identified for nurturing towards future national team engagements. ‘Our coaches exceeded expectations, reaching underserved areas and creating opportunities for girls previously unexposed to rugby. The response has been overwhelming, showing that the future of women’s rugby in Nigeria is very bright,’ she said.
Wuraola expressed confidence the expanding grassroots base would strengthen the talent pipeline and improve competitiveness in regional and international competitions. She said the federation would sustain momentum through follow-up camps, inter-school competitions, and continuous talent monitoring. The four-month programme, which began in November, concluded in February with demonstration matches and evaluation sessions to assess participants’ progress.