Nigeria national rugby union team

Not to be confused with Niger national rugby union team.
Nigeria
Union Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
First international
 Nigeria 12-111  Zimbabwe
(1 August 1987)
Largest win
 Nigeria 63-3  Mauritius
(23 June 2013)
Largest defeat
 Nigeria 12-111  Zimbabwe
(1 August 1987)

The Nigeria National Rugby Union Team represent Nigeria in the sport of rugby union. Nigeria have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have competed in qualifying tournaments. Nigeria played their first international against Zimbabwe on 1 August 1987, losing by 111-12 in Nairobi. Their greatest success has been in the Africa Nations Cup 2013, where they beat Mauritius 63-3 in group 1C.

Nigeria tried to qualify for the first time for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but lost to Senegal (6-48) and Cameroon (8-18), and were eliminated. They also missed the presence at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, after losing to Cameroon (6-26), in the pre-qualifier.

Nigeria 15-A-Side

Nigeria are currently in the Africa Nations Cup group 1C and will participate in this tournament again in 2014.

Nigeria Squad for the 2012 Africa Cup

Head Coach: Steven Lewis (New York Blues, USA), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC, England)

Nigeria Squad for the 2013 Africa Cup

Head Coach: Gavin Hogg (Bury St Edmunds RFC, England), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC, England)

[1]

Nigeria Squad for the 2014 Africa Cup 1C

Manager: Dele Coker, Assistant Coaches: Richard Raphael (Kaduna RFC), Ofoha Joseph (Cowrie RFC) [2]

Nigeria Squad for the 2015 Africa Cup 1C

Manager: Fabian Juries, Team Doctor/Physio: Bukola Bojuwoye [3]

Test Match Record

[4]

World Rugby Ranking

Nigeria are currently ranked 73rd in the world by World Rugby (15 April 2015) Their previous ranking was 81st in the world prior to the 2014 Africa Nations Cup 1C http://www.worldrugby.org/rankings

World Cup record

Nigeria 7-A-Side

Nigeria participated in the C.A.R (Confederation of Africaine Rugby) in Marrakesh, Morocco on 24–25 September 2011. In the pool stages they defeated Senegal and Burkina Faso but were beaten by hosts Morocco, however they still progressed to the semi finals where they were to face regular IRB participants, Tunisia. Nigeria were beaten in the semi finals by a very experienced Tunisian team, however pride was restored in the 3rd/ 4th place playoff against Ivory Coast, where they came from behind in the second half to force the game into sudden death extra time where a last minute try by Craig Olugbode gave the victory to the Nigerian team. This meant Nigeria qualified for the All Africa 7s tournament in September 2012 which was the African regional ranking and qualifying tournament for the Rugby World Cup 7s in Russia in 2013.

In the African regional RWC 7s qualifier held again in Morocco on the 29th and 30 September 2012 the Nigeria 7s team finished third overall and just missed out on RWC qualification. Failure to beat Madagascar in the group game despite dominating the match meant that Nigeria would play tournament favourites Zimbabwe in the semi final rather than Tunisia. Nigeria lost 19-14 and Zimbabwe went on to beat Tunisia 31-7 in the final. Nigeria had the chance to redeem themselves however and beat Madagascar 20-12 in the 3rd/4th place playoff leaving them 5th ranked in Africa and the 3rd ranked African Commonwealth member.

Nigeria 7s qualified to participate at the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games in Scotland. They were drawn alongside Canada, hosts Scotland and all-time Commonwealth champions Newzealand but the team was shockingly withdrawn by the Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) without clarifications as to why such a decision was made. A decision which according to IRB’s Mark Egan "Is disappointing for the Nigerian rugby team and their Rugby Union. There is a chance to get going with their Rugby 7s surge as the team will be competing at the Africa Men 7s in September 2014 in Kenya with the likes of South Africa, Kenya, Uganda, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Senegal, Madagascar, Tunisia, Morocco, Ivory Coast and Zambia.

The team finished in eight place at The Rugby Africa Men’s Sevens Olympic Qualifiers at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, Johannesburg on Saturday 14th and Sunday 15th of November, 2015. injuries and knocks to five members of the team affected their overall performance as captain; Azeez Ladipo injured his shoulder in the early minutes of the first game and they managed him through some matches. Nuhu Samaila, Ike Onwukanjo, Onyinye Onwukanjo, Hafis Ayinla; were also injured leaving the team with one substitute in the last two matches. Coach Fabian Juries explained that the team improved from their 2014 outing where they placed eleventh and says there is room for more improvement. “We set a quarter final target and the boys met it but going forward, we need to work on strength and conditioning of the team and ensure they play together in more tournaments”.

Nigeria 7-A-Side Squad For Africa Cup 7s (Rio Olympic Qualifiers) 2015

Coach: Fabian Juries. Technical Adviser: Dele Coker, Physio: Ingomar Kruger, Doctor: Bukola Bojuwoye

Nigeria 7-A-Side Squad For Africa Cup 7s 2014

Coach: Fabian Juries. Technical Adviser: Dele Coker

Nigeria 7-A-Side Squad For Africa Cup 7s 2013

Coach: Sam Howard (Dulwich College), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC)

Nigeria 7-A-Side Squad For RWC Qualifier 2012

Coach: Steve Lewis (New York Blues), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC)

Nigeria 7-A-Side Squad For 2011

Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC)

Nigerian Players Representing Other Nations

There have been a large number of Nigerian born or eligible players who have, for a variety of reasons, opted to play for another nation.

These include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/nigerianexiles7s/news/nigeria-squad-announced-for-ivory-coast-968736.html
  2. ↑ http://eyeonthesports.com/nigeria-overpower-swaziland-african-rugby-tourney/
  3. ↑ http:/www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/06/nrff-president-upbeat-as-black-stallions-depart-for-zambia/
  4. ↑ http://www.rugbydata.com/nigeria/gamesplayed
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