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Nigeria
Nickname(s)Black Stallions
UnionNigeria Rugby Football Federation
Head coachSteve Lewis
CaptainDeclan Nwachukwu & Olukolade Awobowale
World Rugby ranking
Current69 (as of 13 June 2023)
First international
 Nigeria 12–111 Zimbabwe 
(1 August 1987)
Biggest win
 Nigeria 63–3 Mauritius 
(23 June 2013)
Biggest defeat
 Nigeria 12–111 Zimbabwe 
(1 August 1987)

The Nigeria national rugby union team 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.

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.

Players

Previous squads

Nigeria are currently in the Africa Cup (Division 2) and will compete to gain promotion into the Africa Cup (Performance & First Division) in 2024.

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

Test Match Record

[5]

Team Met Won Lost Draw % F A Diff
 Benin 3 3 0 0 100.00 +
 Botswana 1 0 1 0 0.00 +
 Burkina Faso 1 0 1 0 0.00 -
 Cameroon 2 0 2 0 0.00 0 +
 Ghana 5 4 0 1 75.00 0 +
 Ivory Coast 2 0 2 0 0.00 -
 Kenya 1 0 1 0 0.00 +
 Madagascar 1 0 1 0 0.00 -
 Malaysia 1 0 1 0 0.00 -
 Mali 2 1 1 0 50.00 -
 Mauritius 4 2 2 0 50.00 +
 Morocco 2 0 2 0 00.00 0 -
 Senegal 2 1 1 0 50.00 -
 Swaziland 1 1 0 0 100.00 +
 Togo 3 2 0 1 75.00 -
 Zambia 2 1 1 0 50.00 +
 Zimbabwe 1 0 1 0 00.00 -

World Rugby Ranking

Nigeria were ranked 69th in the world by World Rugby as of 29 November 2021. https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/rankings/mru

World Cup record

Nigeria Rugby Statistics as at December, 2014

Games Played 23
Games Won 8
Games Lost 13
Games Drawn 2
Longest Winning Streak 4
Longest Losing Streak 6
Teams Played 15
Teams Beaten 6
Teams Beaten By 11
Teams Drawn With 2
Grounds Played At 1
Largest Points For 61
Largest Points Against 111
Largest Winning Margin 51
Largest Losing Margin -99
Total Points For 375
Avg Points For 16.3
Total Points Against 549
Avg Points Against 23.87
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. ^ http://www.rugbydata.com/nigeria/gamesplayed

External links

National sports teams of Nigeria
International rugby union teams
Categories