Nigeria Rugby Federation cracks down on erring players

By Tosin Omojola

The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) has announced that several players and officials will face its disciplinary committee next week following alleged violations during last Saturday’s South-West League match between Racing RFC and Cowrie RFC.

The match, which took place at the Main Bowl of the National Stadium in Surulere, Lagos, saw players disrespecting match officials in the closing moments, prompting the Federation to take swift disciplinary action.

The incident occurred after Cowrie’s fly-half, Joshua Rankin, scored a last-minute consolation try, narrowing the score to 15-5. As Cowrie prepared for the conversion, multiple Racing players protested, delaying the kick.

Referee Ifeanyi Arinze spent five minutes trying to restore order but was unable to resume play due to continued disruptions. As a result, the referee canceled the conversion attempt and signaled full-time, leaving the final score at 15-5.

In addition to the protests over the conversion, match officials reported verbal exchanges and instances of abuse directed at both officials and players. These actions were deemed breaches of conduct and have led to the NRFF’s decision to investigate further.

Mr. Azeez Ladipo, NRFF’s General Manager, who was present at the match, emphasized the importance of maintaining rugby’s core values, particularly discipline.

“Rugby is the greatest sport, but it relies on respect for its principles,” Ladipo said. “With the intense physicality of the game, players must adhere to clear boundaries to ensure it remains both safe and fair.”