By our reporter
Wellspring University, Benin City, Edo State, has officially introduced Rugby Football Union, becoming the first university in the state to adopt the sport. The introduction was marked by a visit from the Edo State Rugby Team, led by Head Coach Obong Ntiense Williams, popularly known as “Mr. Rugby” in Nigeria, and his 5-man professional Rugby coaches from Lagos.
The university’s management, represented by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Isaac Rotimi Ajayi; Registrar, Dr. Mrs. Helen Uzezi Wara, and Sports Director, Dr. Onuh Matthew Udaya, welcomed the team and expressed enthusiasm for the new programme.
This development is timely, as the university will participate in the upcoming National Universities Games (NUGA) later this year, where rugby is a medal-winning event. The introduction of rugby is expected to enhance sports development and promote teamwork among students.
The Edo State Rugby Team’s visit was a follow-up to Wellspring College Lagos’ involvement in rugby, demonstrating a growing interest in the sport. This initiative positions Wellspring University as a pioneer in rugby development in Edo State.
Remarkably, Edo State is a hub for rugby development in Nigeria. Last year, in recognition of the notable strides and achievements recorded for the state in sports, an official approval was granted by the Ministry of Education to formally introduce rugby to 15 secondary schools as a pilot programme of integrating Rugby into the school sports system. This has been the result of the “Catch-Them-Young” Rugby initiative planted since 2012 in Edo, which has led to consecutive gold medal wins at the National U15 Youth Games and beyond. The EYOTO Sports Academy also endorsed rugby as a development focus and sponsored a championship, which enters its second edition this year.
Photo: Wellspring University rugby programme
Extrasportnigeria 
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