Rugby · National teams
The Black Stallions: Nigeria’s Rugby Teams
Fifteens, sevens, women and rugby league, with every Games result.
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Checked 30 September 2026
The Black Stallions (rugby union)
The Nigeria national rugby team represents Nigeria in the sport of rugby union, there are Rugby football teams which are being controlled and governed by the Nigeria Rugby Federation.
Nigeria’s men play in the Rugby Africa Cup competitions and in African qualifying for the Rugby World Cup. In World Rugby’s words they sit in the top ten of the Africa Cup Sevens and the top sixteen of the Africa Cup fifteens.
| Record | Details |
|---|---|
| Nickname | Black Stallions |
| Governing body | Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (founded 6 May 1998) |
| World ranking | 75th (June 2026); 76th in July 2025 |
| Head coach | Steve Lewis (assistant Vinny Barrington) |
| Captains | Babajide Tunde (fifteens); Declan Nwachukwu and Olukolade Awobowale (sevens) |
| First test | Nigeria 12-111 Zimbabwe, Nairobi, 1 August 1987 |
| Biggest win | Nigeria 63-3 Mauritius, 23 June 2013 |
| Test record | 45 tests: 21 won, 22 lost, 2 drawn (to November 2025) |
| Rugby World Cup | Never qualified; entered qualifying for 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 |
Sevens
Sevens is where Nigerian rugby has had its best days. In 2012 the Stallions were one win from the Rugby World Cup Sevens, losing 19-14 to Zimbabwe in the African semi-final. After the 2021 suspension the team rebuilt, climbing from 11th in Africa in 2024 to 7th in 2025.
| Year | Tournament | Nigeria’s result |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Rugby Africa Sevens, Marrakesh | 3rd: beat Senegal, Burkina Faso and Ivory Coast |
| 2012 | African qualifier for the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens | 3rd: lost 19-14 to Zimbabwe in the semi-final, beat Madagascar 20-12 |
| 2014 | Commonwealth Games, Glasgow | Withdrew before the tournament |
| 2015 | Africa Sevens Olympic qualifier, Johannesburg | 8th (captain Azeez Ladipo) |
| 2024 | Africa Men’s Sevens, Mauritius (two legs) | 11th of 12 |
| 2025 | Africa Men’s Sevens, Port Louis, 21-22 June | 7th: beat Burkina Faso 29-12 and Ghana 19-12 |
Commonwealth Games and African Games
Rugby sevens has been a Commonwealth Games sport since 1998, but Nigeria has not yet taken part: the Stallions withdrew before Glasgow 2014. Rugby first appeared at the African Games in Accra, where Nigeria’s women competed in the first women’s tournament. See Nigeria at the Commonwealth Games for the sports where Nigeria wins medals.
| Games | Team | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 Commonwealth Games, Glasgow | Men’s sevens | Withdrew before the tournament |
| 2023 African Games, Accra (played 19-21 March 2024) | Women’s sevens | 5th of 5 (29 points for, 82 against) |
| 2023 African Games, Accra | Men’s sevens | Did not enter (Uganda won gold) |
Rugby league
Nigeria’s rugby league team plays in the Middle East-Africa region of the International Rugby League. It plays home games at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos and was ranked 37th in the world in December 2025.
| Date | Match | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2 Oct 2019 | Nigeria v Ghana, Lagos (debut) | Won 23-12 |
| 28 Sep 2022 | Nigeria v Cameroon | Won 36-2 (biggest win) |
| Nov 2025 | Cumbria v Nigeria, friendly | Lost 70-6 |
| 23 Nov 2025 | Ghana v Nigeria | Lost 36-24 |
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Keep reading
Rugby in Nigeria
Union, sevens and rugby league in Nigeria.Read more
History of rugby in Nigeria
From Rugby School to the Black Stallions.Read more
Clubs and leagues
Cowrie, Racing, Barewa, Police and the Lagos 7s.Read more
Nigerian rugby players
Itoje, Ubogu, Monye and the home-based stars.Read more
Maro Itoje
England and Lions captain with Nigerian parents.Read more
Contact the NRFF
The Nigeria Rugby Football Federation.Read more
Quick answers
Nigeria’s rugby teams: quick answers
Has Nigeria played at the Rugby World Cup?
No. Nigeria entered African qualifying for the 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023 Rugby World Cups but has not yet reached the finals.
Has Nigeria played rugby at the Commonwealth Games?
Not yet. Nigeria withdrew its sevens team before the 2014 Glasgow Games, and rugby sevens was not on the programme of the 2026 Glasgow Games.
Did Nigeria play rugby at the African Games?
Yes. Rugby sevens made its African Games debut at Accra 2023 (held in March 2024). Nigeria’s women finished 5th of five teams; Nigeria did not enter the men’s event.
Who coaches the Black Stallions?
Steve Lewis is head coach, with Vinny Barrington as assistant. Babajide Tunde captains the fifteens.
Does Nigeria have a rugby league team?
Yes. It debuted with a 23-12 win over Ghana in Lagos on 2 October 2019, beat Cameroon 36-2 in 2022 and was ranked 37th in the world in December 2025. Sadiq Adebiyi is captain.