Rugby Afrique suspends Nigeria over dissolution of board

.Black Stallions out of Rugby World Cup

By Akeem Lawal       

THE hope of Nigeria featuring at the Rugby World Cup has been dashed following the suspension of Nigeria Rugby Football Federation by Rugby Afrique due to government interference, Sportsbiz247.blogspot.com reports.

 

Nigeria Sports ministry last Friday announced the dissolution of the board of 31 sport federations including NRFF and caretaker committees were put in place pending the election that is slated for June 2021.

 

In a letter signed by the President, Rugby Africa, Khaled Babbow and addressed to the Honourable Minister, Federal Ministry of Youth and Sport, Rugby Afrique said the dissolution did not follow the approved process as stipulated in the NRFF’s constitution, thereby announced the suspension of the country from all tournaments and events with immediate effect.

 

Consequently, the Nigeria national Rugby team, Black Stallions will no longer be allowed to participate in the Rugby World Cup Pre-Qualifiers scheduled to be held in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso from June 5 to 13. Nigeria is scheduled to lock horns with Cameroun, Burundi and the host Burkina Faso in a round robin format in the fight for a place in the Rugby Africa Cup Pool D in July.

 

“We have learned of the dissolution of the board of 31 sports federation in Nigeria, including the above Rugby federation to be replaced by a handpicked caretaker committee. We would humbly remind the Honourable Minister that the constitution of the NRFF which was ratified at their Extraordinary General Meeting held in Lagos on the 3rd of March, 2018, was also formally approved by Rugby Afrique and by World Rugby at the time. This constitution, ratified at the National, Regional and Global level as well as the Nigeria Olympic Committee represented by its Secretary General specifically stipulates the time and modalities for the elections for a new board of the NRFF which must be held by duly constituted AGM.

 

“The dissolution of the duly elected board of NRFF is against the stipulations of the approved Constitution and highly disruptive for the union’s operations. Consequently, we have no choice but to impose an immediate suspension of Nigeria’s participation in all Rugby Afrique and World Rugby activities until further notice. We do appeal in all sincerity that the Ministry allows the Federation to follow its approved constitution,” the statement read.