Independence Rugby 7s’ International Flavour Good For Home Based Boys – Fom Pam

The President of the Nigerian Rugby Football Federation, Sir. Edward Fom Pam says the fast approaching CMB Building Maintenance & Investment Company Ltd sporsored Independence Rugby Sevens invitational tournament organised by the Friends of Rugby in conjunction with the federation will positively impact on the standard of the home based players.

“We have our Independence Sevens coming up, slated for October and a lot of international clubs are coming to beef up the competition.”

“Like the Western Province and other clubs coming from UK and across Africa, you know that it will beef up the intensity of your home grown players”

Cowrie RFC Captain Azeez Ladipo Receiving the winner’s Trophy from then Governor of Lagos State Babatunde Fashola

He believes the tournament which will be held between the 23rd and 24th of October at the Onikan stadium featuring foreign clubs like Accra Sharks from Ghana, Western Province of South Africa, Parakou RFC of Republic of Benin, UR7s of Kenya, Panthers International and Merlins Invitational both from the UK will definitely stretch the home based players to the limit and bring out the best in them..

According to the technical committee of the federation, the tournament will be used by the national team handlers to select players to camp ahead of the 2016 Olympics qualifiers coming up in Johannesburg in November.

“We are mixing our grassroots players with our foreign exports also known as Nigerian Exiles ahead of the Olympics qualifiers”.

Defending Champions Cowrie RFC will lead other Nigerian club sides- Barewa RFC, Kaduna RFC, Sabon Geri RFC, Jos RFC, Racing RFC, Police Machines, Gosar RFC, South South 7s and South East 7s to the 2 day competition.

NRFF Announces Slight Adjustment To Independence Rugby Sevens Date

The Nigerian Rugby Football Federation in conjunction with Friends of Rugby have finally announced Friday, 23rd and Saturday, 24th of October as dates for this year’s International Independence Rugby Sevens taking place at the Onikan stadium, Lagos.

According to information made available by the tournament manager, Fasimoye Olatunji, this decision was made after majority of the foreign teams complained about the original date stressing that traveling immediately after the tournament may not be good enough.

Cowrie RFC, winners 2014 Independence 7s

Accra Sharks from Ghana, Western Province of South Africa, Parakou RFC of Republic of Benin, UR7s of Kenya, Panthers International and Merlins Invitational both from the UK are all expected to arrive on Thursday 22nd with all visas related issues already sorted out.

Last year’s winner, Cowrie RFC will lead clubs like Barewa RFC, Kaduna RFC, Sabon Geri RFC, Jos RFC, Racing RFC, Police Machines, Gosar RFC, South South 7s and South East 7s to repel foreign invasion in their quest to retain the title in Nigeria.

16 TEAMS FOR NIGERIA INDEPENDENCE RUGBY SEVENS INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENT

Sixteen teams are set to feature in the seventh edition of the Independence Rugby 7s International Tournament at The Onikan Stadium Lagos, Nigeria on the 24th and 25th of October 2015 .

Participating teams are from within and outside Nigeria and Thelo Wakefield; the President of WP Rugby Union will also make an appearance.

Defending champions Cowrie RFC and 2014 runners up; Barewa RFC make a comeback to the tournament that also features Western Province from South Africa, Ultimate Rugby 7s (Kenya), Panthers Internationals and Merlins Invitational from the UK.

Other teams are; The Police Machines RFC, Plateau Tigers RFC, Kaduna RFC, Racing RFC, Accra Sharks from Ghana, Parakou RFC from Benin Republic, Gosar RFC, SabonGeri RFC, South-South 7s and South East 7s.

Cowrie RFC, Winners of 2014 Independence 7’s

“The Independence Rugby Sevens International Tournament is organized by Friends of Rugby, and It was started in 2009 it is held annually to commemorate Nigeria’s independence anniversary. Asides the commemoration of Nigeria’s Independence, the tournament will also afford National team players an opportunity to use the tournament to prepare for the Olympic qualifiers set for November in South Africa where the Black Stallions of Nigeria are pooled alongside Zimbabwe who emerged fourth at the end of the recently concluded Safari 7s, Uganda and Zambia.