Nigeria national rugby union team

Last updated

Nigeria
NicknameBlack Stallions
Union Nigeria Rugby Football Federation
Head coachSteve Lewis
CaptainDeclan Nwachukwu & Olukolade Awobowale (7’s Captains), Babajide Tunde (15’s Captain)
World Rugby ranking
Current76 (as of 14 July 2025)
First international
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 12–111 Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg
(1 August 1987)
Biggest win
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 63–3 Mauritius  Flag of Mauritius.svg
(23 June 2013)
Biggest defeat
Flag of Nigeria.svg  Nigeria 12–111 Zimbabwe  Flag of Zimbabwe.svg
(1 August 1987)

The Nigeria National Rugby Union team (The Stallions) represent Nigeria in men's international rugby union. Nigeria have thus far not qualified for a Rugby World Cup, but have competed in qualifying tournaments. Nigeria played their first international against Zimbabwe on 1 August 1987, losing by 111-12 in Nairobi. Their greatest success has been in the 2013 Africa Cup, where they beat Mauritius 63-3 in group 1C.

Contents

Nigeria tried to qualify for the first time for the 2007 Rugby World Cup, but lost to Senegal (6-48) and Cameroon (8-18), and were eliminated. They also missed the presence at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, after losing to Cameroon (6-26), in the pre-qualifier.

Previous squads

Nigeria are currently in the top 10 of Africa Cup Sevens and top 16 of Africs Cup Fifteens. they will compete to gain promotion into the Africa Cup (Performance & First Division) in 2026.

Nigeria Squad for the 2012 Africa Cup

Head Coach: Steven Lewis (New York Blues, USA), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC, England)

Nigeria Squad for the 2013 Africa Cup

Head Coach: Gavin Hogg (Bury St Edmunds RFC, England), Manager: Mark Dean (Samurai International RFC), Physio: Emma Mark (Esher RFC, England) [1]

Nigeria Squad for the 2014 Africa Cup 1C in Gaborone, Botswana

Manager: Dele Coker, Assistant Coaches: Richard Raphael (Kaduna RFC), Ofoha Joseph (Cowrie RFC) [2]

Nigeria Squad for the 2015 Africa Cup 1C in Lusaka, Zambia

Manager: Fabian Juries, Team Doctor/Physio: Bukola Bojuwoye [3]

Nigeria Squad for the 2016 Africa Cup 1C in Casablanca, Morocco

Manager: Fabian Juries, Assistant Coach: Joseph Ofoha/Richard Raphael, Team Doctor/Physio: Bukola Bojuwoye [4]


Nigeria Squad for the 2018 West Africa Regional Test Match versus Niger Republic in Niamey, Niger

Manager: Bronson Weir, Assistant Coach: Joseph Ofoha/Simon Joseph Team Doctor/Physio: Bukola Bojuwoye

Nigeria Squad for the 2023 World Cup Elimination Match versus Madagascar in Antananarivo, Madagascar - Dec 1 2019

Manager: Bronson Weir, Team Doctor/Physio: Bukola Bojuwoye

Current Squad

Nigeria Squad for the 2027 World Cup Elimination Match versus Tunisia and Ghana in Monastir, Tunisia - Dec 16th - 23rd 2024.

Player Position Date of birth (age)CapsClub/province
Oghenetejiri Ajuchi Prop Flag of England.svg Barnes R.F.C.
Ford Oladele Ayodele Prop Flag of England.svg Richmond RFC
Taiwo Olagunju Prop Flag of the United States.svg Dallas Men's Rugby
Quadri Kolawole Prop Flag of Nigeria.svg Cowrie RFC
Sunday Bassey Prop Flag of Nigeria.svg Cowrie RFC
Ibrahim Suraj Hooker Flag of Nigeria.svg Barewa RFC
Julius Godwin Hooker Flag of Nigeria.svg Barewa RFC
Iyintosofoluwa Kolawole Prop Flag of Nigeria.svg Racing RFC
Babajide Tunde (Captain) Lock Flag of England.svg Southend RFC
Arinze Okemuo Lock Flag of Nigeria.svg RUMS RFC
Blaise Felix Back row Flag of South Africa.svg Alberton Rugby Club
Akeem Yusuf Back row Flag of Nigeria.svg Cowrie RFC
Frederick Henry-Ajudua Back row Flag of the United States.svg ATL OLD White RFC
Oluwadara Odunlami Back row Flag of England.svg IBC
Liberty Enowa Back row Flag of Nigeria.svg Delta State Rugby
Williams Tyover Malu Back row Flag of Nigeria.svg Nigeria Police Rugby
Jamiu Mohammed Ibrahim Scrum-half Flag of Nigeria.svg Kwara Dynamite RFC
Isa Omale Scrum-half Flag of Nigeria.svg Barewa RFC
Alex Onyeahasi Fly-half Flag of England.svg Clifton RFC
Matthew Ilube Fly-half Flag of England.svg Old Priorians RFC
Tuoyo Egodo Centre Flag of England.svg Birmingham Moseley
Jonathan Ilori Centre Flag of England.svg Esher RFC
Stephen Kiki Suru Centre Flag of Nigeria.svg Eco II RFC
Isaiah Akpovwa Wing Flag of England.svg Blackheath RFC
Aliu Auwal Wing Flag of Nigeria.svg Edo State
Samuel Akpabio Wing Flag of Nigeria.svg Barewa RFC
Christian Williams Friday Fullback Flag of Nigeria.svg Barewa RFC
Monday Omorogieva Fullback Flag of Nigeria.svg Racing RFC


Management

  • Head Coach: Steve Lewis
  • Assistant Coach: Vinny Barrington
  • Doctor: Adebukola Bojuwoye
  • Manager: Azeez Ladipo

Test Match Record

[5]

TeamMetWonLostDraw%FADiff
Flag of Benin.svg  Benin 3300100.00+
Flag of Botswana.svg  Botswana 10100.00+
Flag of Burkina Faso.svg  Burkina Faso 10100.00-
Flag of Cameroon.svg  Cameroon 20200.000+
Flag of Ghana.svg  Ghana 540175.000+
Flag of Cote d'Ivoire.svg  Ivory Coast 20200.00-
Flag of Kenya.svg  Kenya 10100.00+
Flag of Madagascar.svg  Madagascar 10100.00-
Flag of Malaysia.svg  Malaysia 10100.00-
Flag of Mali.svg  Mali 211050.00-
Flag of Mauritius.svg  Mauritius 422050.00+
Flag of Morocco.svg  Morocco 202000.000-
Flag of Senegal.svg  Senegal 211050.00-
Flag of Eswatini.svg  Swaziland 1100100.00+
Flag of Togo (3-2).svg  Togo 320175.00-
Flag of Zambia.svg  Zambia 211050.00+
Flag of Zimbabwe.svg  Zimbabwe 101000.00-

World Rugby Ranking

Nigeria were ranked 76th in the world by World Rugby as of 14 of July 2025. https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru

World Cup record

Nigeria Rugby Statistics as at December, 2014

Games Played23
Games Won8
Games Lost13
Games Drawn2
Longest Winning Streak4
Longest Losing Streak6
Teams Played15
Teams Beaten6
Teams Beaten By11
Teams Drawn With2
Grounds Played At1
Largest Points For61
Largest Points Against111
Largest Winning Margin51
Largest Losing Margin-99
Total Points For375
Avg Points For16.3
Total Points Against549
Avg Points Against23.87
Total Points Difference-174
Avg Points Difference-7.57


Nigerian players representing other nations

There have been a large number of Nigerian born or eligible players who have, for a variety of reasons, opted to play for another nation.

These include:

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Nigeria Squad Announced for Ivory Coast".
  2. ↑ "Rugby - EOS". 5 November 2023.
  3. ↑ "NRFF president upbeat, as Black Stallions depart for Zambia". 15 June 2015.
  4. ↑ "NRFF president upbeat, as Black Stallions depart for Zambia". 15 June 2015.
  5. ↑ "International Rugby Union Statistics". Archived from the original on 12 November 2012. Retrieved 2 July 2013.
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