Rugby Federation Set To Resolve Crisis

The crisis bedevilling the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) for almost one year is set to be resolved soon as all parties to the crisis have agreed to meet in December.

    NRFF President Dr Richard Ajayi announced the move in an interview with  newsmen in Lagos last week.

    Tidesports source reports that the International Rugby Board (IRB) banned Nigeria following the decision of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to concession some sports, including rugby, to individuals and corporate bodies.

NRFF was consequently concessioned to Racing Rugby Club, which led some individuals to petition the IRB which subsequently banned Nigeria from its activities.

Ajayi said the NSC and all rugby enthusiasts had been meeting to resolve the crisis and added that the planned December meeting would find a way of having the IRB ban lifted.

He, however, said the ban was “just on paper” as it did not stop the federation from taking part in international competitions.

The NRFF president said the federation’s grass roots programme had paid off handsomely.

He said the federation had a technical partnership agreement with South Africa’s Meties Rugby Academy with the aim of setting up an academy in the country, pointing out that the pact was part of the federation’s four-year development programme.

On his part, NRFF Chief Executive Officer Kayode Oguntayo said the federation was in constant touch with Nigeria’s foreign-based players with the aim of forming a national team.