LAGOS STATE SPORTS COMMISSION SET TO TRANSFORM, PROMOTE RUGBY
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Rugby in Lagos State is set to witness transformational growth and development as the State Sports Commission commits to rigorously rooting the sport in primary schools, secondary schools, and local communities through youth engagement and a strategic partnership with the British Rugby School in Lagos.
This was revealed by the Director General of the Lagos State Sports Commission, Mr. Lekan Fatodu at the final of an invitational tournament put together by the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, Hombre Sports, and the British Rugby School, with the support of the Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC).
Mr. Fatodu, represented by the Director of Sports Development, Mr. Nunayon Travih, noted that sports development alongside education is a core part of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus agenda. He emphasised that the Commission is committing significant efforts to ensure youth participate in sports alongside their academic pursuits, a model exemplified by the British Rugby School.
“For us at the Lagos State Sports Commission, our focal area is the engagement of the youth. So, we will take rugby as a sport to both primary and secondary schools and within the youth bracket, so that when they grow into adult life, they have a sport to which they can grow with and develop themselves to become better individuals within society, and for their later life living.
“We do appreciate this initiative that the British government is having a British Rugby School, which is going to have education and sport. This aligns with the T.H.E.M.E.S. Plus Agenda of Mr. Governor, as being propagated by the Lagos State Sports Commission. So, we see the initiative and we support it, and that’s why we are here in our large numbers to give support and encouragement to them.
“And from a conversation with the principal of the school earlier today, we intend to partner with them. Considering that Lagos State has well over a thousand secondary schools, we will introduce rugby to schools, encourage them to develop within the school ecosystem, and at the same time, encourage inter-collaboration within the British Rugby School and the Lagos State school system, so that we can have players and athletes coming to compete together on a neutral field.
“This tournament represents an opportunity for the youth. It represents a platform for growth, for our athletes to choose other sports. Because it’s not just football, tennis, or athletics. It is an opportunity to develop their individual talent and to give another platform for them to grow in the different areas of sports that are available within the context of sport.”
Also speaking at the event, Mr. Azeez Ladipo, the General Manager of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation and former captain of the national team, the Stallions, explained that the competition was designed to give local domestic players regular game time, which is essential for improving performance.
To ensure the continuity and sustainability of the sport, Mr. Ladipo mentioned that the federation is partnering with the British Rugby School, which boasts fantastic infrastructure, as well as other corporate partners and the Lagos State Sports Commission.
In his words, “The purpose is to give local domestic players game time. That’s the only way to improve. I think over the years we’ve had competitions that have gone down because the organisers couldn’t continue them anymore.
“So, what we’re doing this time around is to have a more structured domestic competition alignment. We’ll have different circuits – one in Lagos, one in the Delta. This will run annually or biannually in a sustainable manner, in such a way that an individual cannot determine whether it dies or doesn’t.
“This event is more like a precursor to the flagship one, which is the Lagos Sevens that will be coming up by year-end. We had 11 teams invited for this tournament – seven male and four female across the country – and by the next event, we’ll widen the net to capture more teams to have a fantastic one.”
The event, in which the Barewa Rugby team from Kano defeated the Cowrie Rugby team from Lagos 19-0 to lift the trophy in the Male Category, and the AJ Sharks from Lagos defeated the Barewa female team 5-0 to win the female category, was attended by French International Rugby Olympian, Aaron Grandidier, who was on hand to inspire and mentor the young players
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