In a historic move for the growth and welfare of Rugby in Nigeria, the much-anticipated Nigeria Rugby Players Union (NRPU) was officially inaugurated on Thursday, April 24, 2025, through a virtual meeting that also saw the election of its interim executive council.
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At the helm is Mr. Peter Otemade, a respected former National Team Hooker and veteran of Lagos, Racing, and Abuja Rugby Clubs. Flanked by Vice Chairman Mr. Adeniji Taleeb Abiodun and Secretary Mr. Chidera Felix Iheme, the leadership brings decades of on-field experience and passion to the task of transforming Nigerian Rugby.
FULL LIST OF EXECUTIVES:
1. Chairman – Peter Otemade
2. Vice Chairman – Adeniji Taleeb Abiodun
3. Secretary – Chidera Felix Iheme
4. Treasurer – Adebor E. Philip (EAZY)
5. Financial Secretary – Ibrahim Musa
6. PRO – Williams Ediongsenyene Ekpo
7. Chief Whip – Adebambo Remilekun
Zonal Representatives:
North East: Mohammed Usman
North West: Abdulahi Audu
North Central: Obatoyinbo Afolabi
South East: Amarachi Orji
South South: Emeka Mathew
South West: Abubakar Tahiru
Female Representatives:
North: Cynthia Ishaya
South: Timitope Okoko
The NRPU is committed to player welfare, representation, and development, standing as a collective voice to advocate for fair play conditions, welfare, and professional growth. Its formation couldn’t be more timely, coming after years of decline in national tournaments and inactivity at the domestic level.
Speaking passionately, Chairman Peter Otemade emphasized, “Rugby players want to play the game on the pitch, not just on social media. We need matches. We used to sponsor ourselves and bring glory to Nigeria. But in the past four years, we’ve barely had any National League activity.”
Secretary Chidera Felix Iheme echoed these concerns, citing the absence of rugby from the upcoming National Sports Festival in Abeokuta as a major setback: “We are tired of watching our sport fade. The National Sports Festival was a rare platform to shine, and now even that is gone.”
From the North East, Zonal Rep Mohammed Usman of Bara Bara and Melon Rugby in Gombe expressed optimism: “This Union gives us purpose and inclusion. We are ready to grow with it.”
Celebrating both her birthday and a milestone for women in rugby, Coach Amarachi Orji of Abia State highlighted the lack of female tournaments: “We need games. Players are training hard with nowhere to showcase their talent.”
Present at the historic event were Rugby stalwarts like Mr. Rugby himself, Obong Ntiense Williams, and Coach Richard Raphael of Kaduna, who moderated the elections.
The Union has set out a clear mandate:
Player Advocacy: From contracts to welfare and post-career transitions
Policy Engagement: Working with rugby authorities for better governance
Development Focus: Education, seminars, and continuous skill-building
Dispute Representation: Ensuring fair treatment and justice for players
Data & Strategy: Informed decisions backed by real-time insights
This bold new chapter in Nigerian Rugby is not just a statement—it’s a movement. And the players are taking back their game.
Nigeria Rugby isn’t just back. It’s ready to tackle the future.
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