Ademola Aare, President of the Rugby Federation of Nigeria, has passionately called on the National Sports Commission to ensure rugby’s inclusion as a core sport at the National Sports Festival.

Despite growing grassroots development and the sport’s expanding popularity, rugby has often been excluded by hosting states unwilling to accommodate it.

At a recent stakeholders’ meeting, Aare expressed his frustrations with the persistent sidelining of rugby and pleaded for fair treatment of the sport and its athletes.

“What is Optional Sports?”

Aare began his appeal by highlighting the detrimental effects of excluding rugby:

“We have athletes in the employment of states, we have youths we’ve been training, and at the tail end of everything, they tell me rugby is an optional sport.”

“What is ‘optional sports,’ for God’s sake? It’s very, very painful, sir. I want to plead, sir. I want to plead.”

Aare underscored the injustice of asking rugby administrators to lobby states for inclusion, despite the festival being a national platform owned and organized by the National Sports Commission.

“The Commission is the owner of the National Sports Festival. If the state is not ready to accommodate all of us, this is our Olympics. Then that state should not be considered. I know there are constraints.”

“Rugby is Our Olympics”

For Aare, the festival represents more than just competition—it is the pinnacle for athletes and a critical platform for national unity and development.

Denying rugby a place undermines years of preparation and effort from players and administrators alike.

“This is our Olympics. After doing all this wahala for two years, they will now tell me I have to go and lobby states.”

“It’s very, very painful. I understand there are senior sports—I cannot compare myself with athletics, with golf, with basketball, or with football. But I’m telling you, we are trying.”

The Case for Rugby’s Future

The exclusion of rugby from the festival reflects a larger problem, one that undermines the dedication and hard work of the sport’s stakeholders.

Aare noted that rugby has continued to grow, thanks to grassroots initiatives and the passion of its community, but without recognition at the national level, progress will remain stunted.

“I want the Commission to appreciate us. If we’re investing in youth development and national unity through sports, rugby deserves a chance to shine.”

What’s Next?

Aare’s plea comes at a critical time when new leadership in Nigeria’s sports administration offers hope for policy changes.

He believes that if the National Sports Commission truly values all athletes and their contributions to sports in Nigeria, rugby must be included in the festival without conditions.

The ball is now firmly in the Commission’s court to ensure rugby players and fans are no longer sidelined and that the sport is given the recognition it deserves on the national stage.