In a nation where football typically commands the spotlight, a quiet yet powerful revolution has been unfolding across Nigeria’s school fields and dusty playgrounds: girls embracing rugby. The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has announced a significant grassroots breakthrough, with over 5,000 girls participating in its “Rugby Rising” programme, which concludes this weekend.
The initiative, launched in November and spanning four months, delivered intensive rugby training sessions to young girls nationwide, dramatically increasing female engagement in the sport. NRFF board member Hussain Wuraola supervised the programme, which was implemented by 30 coaches across the country, all adhering to standards set by World Rugby.
Beyond the impressive participation numbers, the programme has had a profound cultural impact. By taking rugby directly into schools and academies, “Rugby Rising” has successfully challenged long-standing stereotypes and fostered greater acceptance of the sport among young girls, many of whom are experiencing the game for the very first time. Wuraola commended the unwavering dedication of the coaches, noting that “their commitment helped push the game into previously unreached communities.”
She expressed strong optimism that women’s rugby in Nigeria now rests “on firmer ground,” bolstered by a growing surge of interest and enthusiasm from the next generation. With 5,000 girls now introduced to structured rugby training, the pertinent question is no longer whether women’s rugby can thrive in Nigeria, but rather how far this burgeoning momentum can propel it.
