South-West Rugby Union League Ready To Resume April 25th

Southwest Rugby League

Organizers of the South-West league; Friends of Rugby held a meeting last weekend to review the phase of the league and they have announced 25th of April as the resumption date of the second phase of the league.

The resumption of South-West rugby league is a great way to end April and it promises to be a fascinating opening weekend with second placed team on the log; Racing RFC facing off with the oldest club in Lagos, Lagos RFC. Spectators will witness a local derby between Gosar RFC and EcoII RFC with both teams based in Ajegunle. Defending champions and league leaders Cowrie RFC are billed to face Hawksters Athlethics RFC although the match may not hold as Hawksters Athletics is yet to appeal the sanction placed on them by the NRFF since October 2014. The last match of the opening day will be between Police RFC and Ilorin based Royal Stallion RFC.

The chairman of Friends of Rugby; Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu announced at the meeting that a Preparatory/Enablement fee from league sponsors; CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Co. Ltd will go to all participating teams. Mr Mbagwu also congratulated the Northern League organizers for a job well done on the completion of their 2014 League Season.

An anti doping seminar will be held at the press conference before the start of the League to be handled by Doctor Bukola Bojuwoye with all team coaches and captains mandated to attend.

Women Rugby Impresses Fans, As Southwest League First Phase Comes To An End

Rugby has always been regarded as a man’s game. But women are making their presence felt not just as spectators but as participants too. The side attraction clash between Police select and Lagos select During Saturday’s League match day was no doubt the main attraction at the National stadium’s main bowl, Lagos.

Funmilayo Aladeyelu is being tackled by an opponent during the women select match on saturday

The first league match of the day saw Police Machines cross the line seven times to win 35-0 despite first half resistance from Lagos RFC. Police no 8; Adebambo Remilekun opened the scoring before Captain Ramon Bakare and a host of others made their markers.

Meanwhile, Hawkster Athletics full back; Stephen James inspired his team to a 71 -0 win against Eko II.

Hawksters players enjoyed themselves against EcoII on Saturday afternoon with an impressive performance from Solomon Cockeye and young fly half, Nelson Sunday.

Young fly half Nelson Sunday impressed as his team beats Eco II on Saturday

In other games, Royal Stallions RFC of Ilorin lost 0-15 to Racing RFC and the last match of the day between Cowrie RFC and hard fighting Gosar RFC would not be easily forgotten. Gosar’s young center; Sodiq Akanni drew the first blood with his boots in the 36th minute, Cowrie scored their first try right on the clock through winger Christian Ogar to keep the score at 5-3 before the break.

Police RFC vs Lagos RFC

Cowrie’s resilience in the second half ensured victory for the league leaders with tries from new winger; Onor Jato, Frank Adedeji and Hafis Ayinla. the match ended 24-3 points in favour of Cowrie RFC.

Southwest League First Phase Comes To An End:

Southwest Rugby League

The first phase of Southwest League has ended. Cowrie RFC still maintainS its position at the top of the Table with 35 points, Racing RFC are second with 25 and are being trailed closely by Police RFC with 24 points.

Eco II RFC still sits at the bottom of the log with no point.

The Technical Director of the NRFF Olatunji Fasimoye expressed his satisfaction over the CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Co Ltd sponsored league, he emphasized that the league across the regions will help the development and awareness of the sports in the country; he also commended the administrators of the league Friends of Rugby and the sponsors CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Co Ltd a leading real estate firm in the country for their support towards Rugby development in Nigeria.

Racing Fly half

South-West League: Friends Of Rugby Commends CMB Building Maintenance And Investment Co Ltd.

South-West League: Friends Of Rugby Commends CMB Building Maintenance And Investment Co Ltd.

As the first phase of South West League comes to an end on Saturday 16th of August, The league administrators, “Friends of Rugby” commends CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Co Ltd for its continual support towards the development of rugby in Nigeria.

CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Co Ltd, a leading real estate firm has been behind the promotion and sponsorship of rugby in Nigeria for over ten years.

They have helped clubs grow, supported female rugby and grassroots development.

According to the president of NRFF; Sir Edward Fom CMB’s sponsorship is essential and provides opportunities for teams to participate in all three regional leagues in the country.

They also work closely with the NRFF in supporting our National team “The Black Stallions”.

NIGERIA’S NATIONAL RUGBY TEAM-THE BLACK STALLIONS

The last games of the first phase of the South West League matches will hold at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos, on Saturday 16th August 2014.

Lagos RFC will take on The Police Machine in the first game; Racing RFC who disposed Police Machines to claim second spot on the league table will play against Royal Stallions of Ilorin in a bid to retain their spot.

The whooping boys, Eco II RFC will pitch up against Hawkster Athletics while the defending champions Cowrie RFC will defend their 7 years 15s unbeaten run in West Africa against the most improved side in the league Gosar RFC in the last game of the day.

Cowrie RFC still maintains its position at the top of the Table with 30 points; they are being trailed by Racing RFC who defeated Police Machine to claim the spot by 21 points; Eco II RFC sits at the bottom of the log with no point.

Northern League

Zaria RFC Remains Unbeaten After 4 Games

AS the northern league progresses to week four, two games were played last weekend , Zaria RFC registered a home win against Kaduna RFC by 21 to 7 points, Barewa RFC also defeated Kano RFC by 53 to 3 points while the game between Sabongari RFC and Jos RFC was postponed due to security reasons.

Considering the fact that Jos RFC and Sabongari RFC have two outstanding matches each while Kaduna RFC and Kano RFC have one outstanding match each. Zaria RFC remains at the top of the table after four games with 18 points; they are being trailed by Barewa RFC who have also played
four games with 15 points while Kano RFC sit at the bottom of the table after three games with no points.

South-West League: Cowrie Rugby Club Sets New Record As Racing Climb To second on Log…

Captain of Cowrie RFC Azeez Ladipo in Action

Racing Rugby Football club moved up to second on the South-West Rugby Union League table after beating Police Machines in a hard fought match at the Main bowl of the National Stadium on Saturday the 2nd of August 2014.

Their forwards dominated all areas of the park and they remained the dominant force throughout the game.

Racing winger, Imeh Okon raced away in the 20th minute for their first try while Abdul Adeshina went over the line for another try in the second half.

Tunde Olukorede of Gosar RFC delivering a superb tackle to an Hawkster Athletics player

It was not until the second half before Police Machines managed to hold onto the ball long enough to win a penalty which full back, Sulymon Oyebola converted to earn them a consoling 3 points.

Meanwhile, Cowrie Rugby Football Club turned in a record 151-0 points over Eco II RFC. The Defending Champions Cowrie RFC opened the scoring barely 4 minutes on the clock and added much more tries in both halves as they signaled their intent with some ambitious running rugby.

Wing sensation; Christian Ogar scored 4 tries while Onor Jato raced in 2 tries on his league debut. However forward players; Olatunji Oduntan, Emmanuel Chijioke, Samuel Ekpo and Hafis Ayinla are amongst try scorers.

Ekpo Williams of Racing Been rougffled by the Police Maching

Other games saw Hawster Athletics beat Gosar RFC 12- 3 while Lagos Rugby Club (the oldest club in the South-West league) retained their unbeaten run against Royal Stallions of Ilorin with a 15-10 victory.

Christian Ogar and Azeez Ladipo both of Cowrie Rugby Club are on top of the highest try/points chart with 95 and 89 points respesctively. They are being followed closely by Sulymon Oyebola of Police Machines with 71 points.

Christain Ogar of Cowrie on the move

The South-West league continues in a fortnight, thats the 16th August 2014 to be precise.

South-West League Resumes, As Get Into Rugby Programme Kicks Off Skeletal Operations In Nigeria

After a long break, the Southwest league resumes on the 19th of July 2014, the break was due to the involvement of home based players’ in Black Stallion’s participation at the Africa Cup 1C in Gaborone, Botswana.

The National stadium’s main bowl will host four games on Saturday,19th of July with Hawksters RFC facing their harsh rivals Lagos RFC in the first match of the day, Racing RFC will take on defending champions, Cowrie RFC in a must watch game.

Eco II RFC will play against Royal Stallions of Ilorin while Gosar RFC will take on Police Machines in the last match of the day.

Cowrie RFC still retains their slots at the top of the table with 20 point and trailed by Racing RFC by 17 points while ECO II RFC sits at the bottom of the table with 0 point.

SOUTHWEST RUGBY LEAGUE FIXTURES:

Hawksters RFC VS Lagos RFC

Racing RFC VS Cowrie RFC

Eco II RFC VS Royal Stallions

Gosar RFC VS Police Machines

We call on all rugby fan and lovers to come out to the National Stadium and support their teams.

IRB – Get Into Rugby

Get Into Rugby Programme:

Get into Rugby Programme kicks off skeletal operations in Nigeria, Trained GIR Coaches have been sent to schools to administer the program, the program is a central part of the IRB initiative to grow the sport as we rejoin the Olympic Games in Rio 2016.

The aim of the programme is to encourage Children to TRY – PLAY – STAY in Rugby, with a target of recruiting and retaining new players and coaches and referees over the next four years.

The programme will promote the values of the game and ensure children are encouraged to try rugby in safe and progressive way.

We are calling on potential sponsors to partner with us in order to establish the programme fully in Nigeria, already we have over 75 schools registered with this programme nationwide.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY UNION LEAGUE WEEK 4 – Nigeria Police RFC sets new South-West League points record

More records are being broken and set at the on-going South-West Rugby Union League season as the Nigeria Police RFC white washed Eco II RFC by 121 points to 0 at the National Stadium, Lagos. The “Men In Black” started the game well as Muyiwa Olawunmi powered through the Eco II defence to score the first try of the game. The Police side further scored 19 tries with Sulaymon oyebola converting 7 times.

The match between Racing RFC and Hawkster Athletics RFC ended 6-3 in favour of Racing after both fly halfs, Ekpo Williams and Steven James traded penalties. Hawkster mounted pressure on Racing towards the end but the lads from Lekki defended well to ensure their victory. Gosar RFC recorded their second win of the season as they beat Royal Stallion RFC from Ilorin 13-3 to move up to fourth on the log while defending champions, Cowrie RFC secured a 31-0 victory against Lagos RFC in the last game of week 4.

Nothing has changed at the top of the table; Cowrie RFC still sits on top with 20 points followed closely by Racing RFC’s 17 points. The bottom two clubs remains Royal Stallions RFC and Eco II RFC.

The South West Rugby Union League will be on hold to resume on the 28th of June, 2014 due to preparations for the AFRICA NATIONS CUP 1C to be held in Garborone, Botswana in which Nigeria’s “Black Stallions” will face Botswana, Morocco, Zambia, Mauritius and Swaziland.

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL FEDERATION CONCLUDES LEVEL 1 COACHING COURSE AS SOUTH WEST RUGBY UNION LEAGUE CONTINUES…,

NOC/IOC Solidarity Coaching Course

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation just concluded a Level 1 coaching course for nineteen coaches, the event which was staged in Oshogbo, Osun State was organized by the Nigeria Olympic Committee/ International Olympic Committee as a solidarity and developmental strategy for Olympic sports.

It was facilitated by Bright Chivandire a technical representative of IRB from Zimbabwe, the training lasted for five days with nineteen coaches in attendance.

Tthe Secretary General Of NOC Mr Tunde Popoola, The Director of Sports, Osun State and the vice president of NRFF who also doubles as the Technical Director Mr Fasimoye Olatunji all graced the occasion.

The programme will help boost the game and technical knowledge of the coaches resulting to players development.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY UNION LEAGUE WEEK 4

The South west Rugby League Week 4 will resume on Today 17th May 2014 at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.

Royal Stallions RFC from Ilorin will take on Gosar RFC in the first game; Eco II RFC will play Police RFC in the second game. Racing RFC will play Hawkster Athletes RFC in the third game while the last game of the day will see Lagos RFC take on Cowrie RFC.

Cowrie RFC sits on top of the league table with 15 points, Racing RFC with 13 points are in second place while Eco II sits at the bottom of the table with no point.

SOUTH WEST RUGBY LEAGUE WEEK 3 REVIEW….

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE

SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)

The highlight match of the South West League week 3 games between Cowrie RFC and Police Machine ended in favour of Cowrie RFC by 31 point to 6, the arsenal of the Police Machine was neutralized by Cowriere RFC as they fought viciously to retain their six years 15s unbeaten race in West Africa, in other games, Racing RFC retained a clean sheet by demolishing Eco II RFC by 70 points to 0, Lagos RFC lost to Gosar RFC by 5 point to 12, while Hawkster Athletes won Royal Stallions RFC by 24 points to 13.

Cowrie RFC sits on top of the league table with 15 points, Racing RFC with 13 points is in second place while Eco II is at the bottom of the table with no point.

The South West League continues with its week 4 games on the 17th of May at the Main bowl of the National Stadium.

(GIR) GET INTO RUGBY ENDORSEMENT

The experts to undertake the Get into Rugby programme will arrive into the country tomorrow 5th May 2014, the Get into Rugby programme was initiated by the International Rugby Board in a view to spread the sport to schools and also for grass root development of the sport.

The training progamme will be held at the Media center of the national stadium on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May 2014, already 50 coaches and 35 teachers from eight states (Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Plateau, Kaduna, Abia and Imo state) have registered to participate in the first phase of the programme.

NATIONAL TRIALS

Following the invitation of the Nigeria National team to participate in the AFRICA CUP 1C 15s tournament in Gaborone, Botswana from 13th – 22nd of June. The Southern trail which was coordinated by the national technical crew led by the technical adviser was held at the main bowl of the National Stadium Surulere in Lagos on the 3rd of May 2014, the trial had over two hundred and fifty players in attendance,. The technical crew will be in Abuja this weekend to conduct the Northern trail.

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE ! SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)

NIGERIA RUGBY FOOTBALL UPDATE

SOUTH WEST LEAGUE WEEK 3 (CLASH OF THE TITANS)
As the week 3 of the southwest league set to hold on the 3rd of May 2014 at the main bowl of the national stadium, Cowrie RFC will be taking on Police RFC, the game which will be the highlight game of week 3 games is tagged ‘clash of the titan’, Cowrie RFC with six years unbeaten 15’s game race in West Africa set a record last week in the country (highest scored point in a single match) by winning the Royal Stallion RFC by 97 point to 0 in the second match of the week two games will face the determined Police RFC in the last match of week 3 games, Police RFC once sting Cowrie RFC in the final of the independent 7’s tournament held last year at the onikan stadium.
In other matches of the week 3 games, in the first game, Racing RFC will take on Eco II RFC, Lagos RFC and Gosar RFC will knock heads in the second game while the third game will be between Royal Stallions RFC and Hawster Athletics RFC,

(GIR) GET INTO RUGBY ENDORSEMENT
Following the NRFF endorsement as one of the union to participate in the IRB Get into Rugby programme, The Get into Rugby experts will be in Nigeria to undertake a three day training programme for coaches and teachers, the training will be held at the Media center of the national stadium on the 6th, 7th and 8th of May 2014, already 50 coaches and 35 teachers from eight states (Lagos, Ondo, Edo, Delta, Plateau, Kaduna, Abia and Imo state) have registered to participate in the first phase of the programme.

This endorsement will automatically trigger grass root development of rugby in Nigeria.

“Try their potentials, let them play and motivate them to stay”

NATIONAL TRIALS
Nigeria National team will be competing at the AFRICA CUP 1C 15s tournament to be held in Garborone, Botswana from 13th – 22nd of June. Our opponents includes; Botswana, Morocco, Zambia, Mauritius and Swaziland. However, trials for National Team selection will be held in two regions i.e. North and South, the southern trials will be held at the main bowl of the national stadium surulere on 3rd of May 2014 during the Southwest League Week 3 games while the Northern trials will be held in Abuja on the 10th of May 2014, Players from oversea have been contacted to participate in the trails. The NRFF technical team will only pick players from these trials to participate in the National closed camp in order to prepare for the tournament.