Nigeria trains its own rugby coaches and referees

Nigeria has started its first local World Rugby educators as the country builds its rugby coaching and refereeing systems.

This move will help the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation depend less on foreign trainers. Now, local experts can run similar programs at home.

Robert Bwari, World Rugby East and Southern Africa Game Growth Manager, spoke about this at a technical development program in Abuja.

“I am happy about the level Nigeria has reached in the past years. Now Nigeria has World Rugby educators who can train coaches and referees locally,” Bwari said.

He added that World Rugby will continue to support local educators as they lead technical development in Nigeria.

The three-day program focused on coaching, match officiating, first aid in rugby, and safeguarding. About 80 participants attended the event.

NRFF president Ademola Are encouraged the participants to return home and share their knowledge.

“Go back and impact your communities because rugby needs you. Without you, rugby cannot make headway,” Are said.

Wuraola Hussain, a board member of the federation and a World Rugby-certified instructor, said the program would lay a strong technical foundation for rugby in Nigeria.

She mentioned that the participants would pass on what they learned to their communities and states, helping Nigerian rugby grow.

The NRFF is committed to investing in technical education. They want to expand the game beyond its main areas and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in Africa and worldwide.