As the organisers of this year’s independence Rugby 7’s tournament sponsored by CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Co. Ltd have announced Sunday, 24th of August 2014 as the judgment day for teams that are going to participate in the annual rugby event staged to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary since 2009.
According to the Organisers, the Southwest region has been allotted 5 team slots in which 2013 finalists, Police Machines and Cowrie RFC have been awarded automatic spots at this year’s tournament while the remaining three playoff spots will be contested for between six other teams namely; Lagos RFC, Racing RFC, Gosar RFC, Hawkster Athletic, Eco II and Royal Stallions of Ilorin.
The Play-offs for this Spots will will be held at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos where the pretenders will be separated from contenders.
The playoff became necessary a due to expression of Interests from European, South African and West African teams which will increase this year’s international representation to a level never before witnessed before in the country.
The Friends of Rugby organised event has grown to be the biggest Rugby 7s party in Nigeria with the 2013 edition enjoying a better and wider participation with clubs from the UK, Egypt and Ghana adding the much needed International flavour.
However, clubs from every zone in Nigeria performed extremely well and this culminated in two local teams making into last year’s final which the Police Rugby Football club of Lagos won by beating Cowrie RFC 12-7.
According to the organisers, this year’s edition promises to be bigger and better with eleven local team and five international teams expected to battle for the trophy, at the Onikan stadium between the 10th and 11th of October 2014
Northern clubs will also battle to claim three slots allocated to the region while South South, South East region and the Capital territory clubs will play for a slot each in the event
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