NRFF RELEASE 2016 RUGBY CALENDAR

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation has made public its 2016 calendar as the Sir Edward Fom Pam led Federation continues its mission of having Nigeria return to the continental and world map of rugby.

According to a release from the NRFF Technical department, the Regional league which consists of the North Central, North West, South South/East and the South West league is expected to kick off between March and April in the different regions while the Super Cup which will determine the National Champions will be held in November, 2016.

It was revealed that the Black Stallions will be taking part in the African Cup 1C to be hosted in Morocco come June.

Nigeria will be competing against Mauritius, Morocco and Cameroon at this year’s tournament which will serve as pre-qualifier for the 2019 Rugby World cup.

Meanwhile, the Men senior 7s team will also participate at the African Cup 7s which will also feature Kenya, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Mauritius, Uganda, Zambia, Botswana, Madagascar, Tunisia, Morocco and Senegal come September in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to the Technical Director of the federation Fasimoye Olatunji, the Nigeria Sevens season will be from July to November with several sevens tournament already lined up across the country.

The tournaments include: Liliker 7s, Zaria, Independence 7s Lagos, Plateau Invitational 7s, President Cup, Lagos and the proposed Niger Delta 7’and Eastern 7s.

The federation has also revealed that training for coaches and referees is scheduled to hold in the second quarter of the year.

The GIR developmental program will run through the year while the schools and female rugby festival will also be staged at a later date yet to be determined.

In his reaction, Fasimoye revealed that the year is going to be a very busy one for the federation and its athletes.