…Coach cautioned, player dismissed as Kaduna RFC upsets Zaria RFC
Week 3 action of the Northern Rugby league sanctioned by the Nigeria rugby Football Federation took centre stage across various venues in the North East region.
Kano RFC were awarded 14 points after they worked over Keiprince RFC who failed to show up for their week 3 encounter.
Meanwhile, Kaduna RFC defeated Zaria RFC 7 points to 3 after coming from behind in the 2nd half with Mohammed Abdullahi scoring a try before the resulting kick was converted to upturn Zaria’s 1st half lead in a game that saw Zaria’s head coach bagging a yellow card and his player picking up a red card in the 2nd half.
North Central and North Eastern Rugby League Resumes after Ramadan break
Abuja RFC
The league organizing committee of the North Central and North Eastern Rugby League have officially announced the resumption date of the leagues, the league will now resume after Ramadan.
As Rugby enthusiasts in these regions continue to yearn for more action following the announcement which has seen the league suspended since the first sets of matches were played on the 6th of June across various venues in the region.
The Technical committee of the league led by Eusebius Yayock said that after due consultation with the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Technical department, the season will resume on the 25th of July which is a week after the Moslem fasting period.
As the end of match day 1 in the North Central League, Plateau occupies the top spot on the table as they were awarded 14 points after walking over Nassarawa who failed to show up for their match without any official notification from the club management while Abuja defeated Viti Accordingly by 15points to 10 to occupy the second position on the log.
Meanwhile, in the North East, Kaduna proved too strong for Kano scorpions as they ran away with 64points, the scorpions were too powerless to sting the crocs at home.
In other matches played, Zaria RFC outscored Sabon Gari RFC by 15points to 8 as Barewa RFC walked over Kelprince RFC with 14points in their kitty without breaking sweat.
With the northern rugby followership heating up for the kick off of the 2015 league season, Head of the Northern Technical Sub Committee Eusebius P Yayock is confident that Rugby fans and supporters are in for a swell time based on the improvements already made by the clubs and the organisers.
He revealed that this year’s league will be played in two conferences which is the North West/and North Central with an addition of two more teams who met the league participation requirements and laid down guidelines.
action from a previous edition of the Northern Rugby League
The two new teams, Viti Rfc of Jos will be competing with Abuja RFC, Plateau RFC and Nasarawa RFC in the North Central Conference while Keiprince Rfc of Kaduna, will be competing with the likes of Barewa RFC, Zaria RFC, Sabon Gari RFC, Kano RFC and Kaduna RFC in the North West Conference for the 2015 zonal title.
With the season set to kick off on the 13th of June, the defending champions Barewa Rfc are not taking any chances regarding their preparation for the league as other club’s too are doing all it takes to wrestle the title from them.
Abuja RFC
The Coordinator of the newly elected Northern Nigerian Rugby Association under the umbrella of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation Audu Musa expressed his commitment to promote rugby in the North as he calls for corporate organizations to participate in the sponsorship of the sport in the North.
“We are pleading with established organizations in the North to support the sport as part of their corporate social responsibility.”
After an exciting day one at the ongoing independence Rugby Sevens Tournamment, eight teams qualify for the cup quarterfinals scheduled to hold tomorrow 1st November 2014 at the Onikan Stadium Lagos.
The Cup quarter final fixture is as follows;
1. Plateau Tigers RFC vs South-South RFC
2. Barewa RFC vs Zaria RFC
3. Cowrie RFC vs Royal Stallions RFC
4. Police Machine will take on Racing RFC.
The bottom teams in each groups are Abia Buffalos RFC, Abuja RFC and Gosah RFC. They will battle for the Bowl silverware tomorrow.
Abuja RFC
Tournament Manager, Fasimoye Olatunji praised the teams for a good showing today. “The grand finale tomorrow will go down to the wire. we implore all rugby fans to come all out tomorrow Saturday to watch some fantastic 7s rugby.
Tournament manager of the Independence Rugby 7’s Championship ‘Fasimoye Olatunji’ as affirmed that despite the withdrawal of international teams, the tournament promises to be of top standard, 13 teams from all over the regions in Nigeria will be competing for Cup, Plate and bowl silverware.
The tournament which will be staged at the Onikan Stadium Lagos on the 31st October and 1st November 2014 from 10am – 6pm on both days will feature defending champions,
Independence Rugby 7s Tournament
Police Machine and last year’s runner up Cowrie RFC.
Other teams are:
Hawkster Athletics,
Racing RFC,
Gosah RFC,
Covenant University RFC,
Royal Stallions RFC,
South-South RFC,
Abia Buffalos RFC,
Zaria RFC,
Barewa RFC,
Plateau Tigers and Abuja RFC.
The tournament promises to be a fun filled one and entry into the venue is free. Fasimoye as has called on all rugby fans and the general public to come out en-mass to support and enjoy the tournament.
After an highly contested play off in the Northern Region this weekend, Plateau Tigers RFC, Barewa RFC and Zaria RFC have secured a slot in this year’s Independence Rugby 7’s championship, Also, Royal Stallions RFC of Ilorin secured a slot after Marlins RFC of UK withdraw from the championship.
Following this development, the tournament manager Fasimoye Olatunji who is also the Technical Director of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation confirmed that sixteen teams will be participating in this year’s edition:
Alexander RFC of Egypt,
Cosmos Buffalos of Ghana,
Botswana Vultures,
Nigerian Exile RFC of UK,
Police Machine of Lagos (Defending Champions),
Cowrie RFC of Lagos,
Racing RFC of Lagos,
Hawkster Athletics of Lagos,
Gosar RFC of Lagos, Zaria RFC,
Barewa RFC,
Plateau Tigers RFC of Jos,
Abuja RFC,
Buffalos RFC of Abia,
South South RFC
and Royal Stallions of Ilorin.
Independence 7’s: Hawster Athletics, Racing RFC And Gosar RFC Grab Playoffs Spot
Fasimoye further stated that the teams will be grouped into four groups consisting of four teams each and they will play for CUP, Plate, Bowl and Shield.
Exciting action, delicious meals, a great crowd, is what best describes the Independence Rugby 7s tournament which is held annually by the rugby community to commemorate Nigeria’s Independence anniversary.
This year’s edition will be held at the Onikan Stadium, Onikan, Lagos on the 31st of October and 1st of November 2014.
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