President of Rugby Africa, Hebert Mensah, recently emphasized the significant potential within Nigeria’s rugby landscape, especially evident in the country’s recent participation in the African Games.
Mensah made these remarks while observing the performance of Nigeria’s senior female rugby team, the Lady Stallions, as they competed against some of the continent’s top rugby-playing nations.
Reflecting on Nigeria’s return to international rugby after a period of absence due to a ban, Mensah noted the commendable resilience displayed by the team in matches against formidable opponents such as Madagascar, Uganda, Tunisia, and Zimbabwe.
He described Nigeria’s competitive showing as a strong testament to the country’s vast potential not only in rugby but also in other sports disciplines such as handball, volleyball, weightlifting, wrestling, and athletics.
Mensah emphasized the importance of increasing Nigeria’s participation in international competitions, citing his close relationship with the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Dr. Ademola Are, as a potential avenue for securing more opportunities on the global stage.
He underscored the need for NRFF to take advantage of sports like athletics, weightlifting, shot put, handball, and wrestling, highlighting the importance of reintegrating these disciplines into the rugby landscape.
Furthermore, Mensah stressed the necessity of establishing robust grassroots programs, including local and school leagues, to nurture talent from a young age.
He lamented the absence of a school league system in West Africa compared to countries like Zimbabwe and South Africa, where such structures have proven instrumental in talent development.
Mensah concluded by affirming that implementing these measures could position Nigeria’s rugby program to rival some of the top rugby-playing nations in Africa.
