The Independence Rugby 7’s Championship organizers
received late withdrawal notice from three international teams scheduled to participate
in the Tournament, the news from Alexander
RFC, Nigeria Exiles RFC and Botswana National 7s Team came in on Monday 27th
October. Although, the story behind their withdrawal was not clearly stated but
it has an element of the Ebola controversy.
The CEO of CMB Building Maintenance & Inv. Co. Ltd and the sponsor of
the tournament Mr Kelechukwu Mbagwu , affirms
that organizers will go ahead with plans despite the
withdrawal of the three foreign teams, his brand will focus on the
overall picture
which is to develop the sport in Nigeria, although the withdrawal of the
international teams is not good for the expected brands mileage from the
tournament, they are more keen on the development of Rugby in Nigeria.
CMB Building
Maintenance & Inv. Co. Ltd is the back bone of the Nigeria Rugby Football
Federation
NRFF Technical Director
and Tournament Director of the independence Rugby 7’s Fasimoye Olatunji
in his reaction to
the withdrawal of these teams said, “we will not let the withdrawal
distract us
from the overall goal, although we will miss the international flavor in
the
tournament but their absence will not in any way affect the standard of
the competition, despite the participation of three international teams
last year, we witnessed two
local teams; Police Machines and Cowrie RFC in the cup final. We will
use the tournament to access our local
players and this is an opportunity for players in contention
for the trip to the Africa Cup 7s scheduled for 8th-29th
November in Harare to put their hands up for selection under the watchful eye
of ex springbok 7s star; Fabian Juries”.
Juries is the third highest try
scorer in the history of IRB International 7s series and he will be at the
tournament to assist the NRFF technical team look at possible players for Black
Stallions 7s.
Fasimoye further appeal to the public to come all out to support and
enjoy the independence rugby 7’s which will be held at the Onikan Stadium Lagos on the 31st October
and 1st of November 2014.
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