The British High Commission has donated over 19 cartons of international standard rugby kits and balls to the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) in a bid to promote the sport in Nigeria. 

The ceremony where the donation was made took place on Thursday at the Media Centre of the Moshood Abiola National Stadium in Abuja.

UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria, Gill Lever, expressed her excitement about the potential of Nigerian rugby players, stating, "Over 120 countries globally participate in rugby. Why shouldn’t Nigeria be one of the countries climbing up the league tables both in Africa and beyond? I believe Nigeria can achieve that." 

She praised the country's rapid progress, noting that Nigeria has moved from 24th to 8th in Africa's rugby rankings in under three years.

Lever also highlighted the positive impact of rugby on society, saying, "Rugby is famous for its team spirit, shared goals, and strong values like integrity, honesty, and respect. It’s a physically tough game that teaches mental resilience and promotes social inclusion." 

She commended the NRFF's efforts to bring more women into the sport, particularly the Rugby Rising Play Programme, a girls-only initiative for teenage girls aged 10 to 18 across 15 states.

The Assistant Director in the Ministry of Sports, representing the National Sports Commission Chairman, Alhaji Mohammed Maigidasama expressed gratitude to the British High Commission for the donation, stating, "We have over 40 sporting federations in Nigeria, so this support to rugby is a huge plus. We urge the UK Commission to extend similar gestures to other federations."

NRFF General Manager, Azeez Ladipo, thanked SOS Kit Aid, a UK-based organization, and the British High Commission for their support. He highlighted the progress of Nigerian rugby under Dr. Ademola Are's leadership, which includes soaring in rankings which saw Nigeria climbing from 24th to 8th in Africa's rugby rankings. Launching of Rugby Rising Play programme, the initiative that is meant for only teenage girls, hiring of a qualified and internationally renowned rugby coach for the national team, Steve Lewis, who is a two-time USA Coach of the Year.

Other achievements include winning the President's Cup against Ghana and reviving the women's rugby programme

Ladipo assured that the donated kits would be utilised for the development of sports in Nigeria.

Credit: Deeonemedia