The Head Coach of Nigeria’s Rugby Senior National Team, Steve Lewis, a Scotsman, has set an ambitious goal: to surpass South Africa’s formidable Blitzboks within five years.
In an exclusive interview with a Persecondnews correspondent in Abuja, Lewis revealed that the absence of a fully functional domestic tournament and proper training camps is significantly hindering the development of the national team, known as the Stallions, and the sport of rugby across Nigeria.
Steve is not a stranger to Nigeria Rugby having coached the Stallions ten years ago from 2012-2013.
Under his watch, Nigeria qualified for the Glasgow Commonwealth Games 2014 against all odds.
Steve was named USA Rugby coach of the year in 2016 and 2019 respectively.
He coached Jamaica Sevens up to the World Challenger Series-Olympic Repechage in 2020 and he is a Technical Consultant for a much improved Brazil National Rugby Team.
He noted that Nigerian Rugby faces challenges that extend beyond the Federation, requiring strong support from top sport administrators in the country.
“I am not saying this is the fault of the Rugby Federation, but a call for the Sport Authorities in Nigeria to get behind the Federation.
“The Federation lacks the necessary resources, which is hindering the promotion of the sport and investment in player development.”
The Scotsman emphasized: “If we get the right platform in 3-5 years, we can go beyond the Blitzboks.
“However, it’s essential to note that Rugby is the number one sport in South Africa, and the Springboks are the reigning world champions, having won the World Cup a record four times (1995, 2007, 2019, and 2023).
“Meanwhile, in Nigeria, Rugby is still a developing sport, despite our large population. It hasn’t received the necessary exposure yet. To build a good and successful team, adequate resources and support are essential.
“To capture the country’s attention, we need an upset win – something that sparks excitement among sponsors and draws media attention to the team. I constantly remind the players that producing an upset is key to getting Nigeria invested and securing the backing we deserve.”
Persecondnews reports that The Stallions of Nigeria wrapped up their 2025 Africa Men’s Sevens campaign on a high note with a thrilling 19–12 victory over the Leopards of Ghana, bringing not only rugby bragging rights but also putting a playful end to the long-standing Jollof rice rivalry between the two nations.
The win sealed a 7th-place finish for Nigeria, a significant leap from their 11th-place standing in the previous edition of the tournament.
Lewis reflected on Nigeria’s performance in Mauritius, saying, “We faced South Africa in the first game – they’re favorites and world champions. We played them 15-7, which is a very respectable result against South Africa.
“Then, we defeated Burkina Faso but suffered a narrow loss to Zambia. One of the most disappointing defeats was to Kenya on Day 2. However, we finished strong, overpowering Ghana.”
Nigeria faced the Shujaa of Kenya in a high-octane quarterfinal showdown.
Missing a few regulars due to injury, the Stallions battled hard but couldn’t hold back the Kenyan tide, eventually losing 43–12 to one of Africa’s elite sides.
The team returned for the placement rounds with determination, meeting Zambia again in a déjà vu clash.
This time, Nigeria matched their opponents stride for stride, covering every inch of the pitch with intensity.
However, they fell just short, losing 26–22 in another fiercely contested game.
This 7th-place finish marks Nigeria’s progress, showing growth, resilience, and a rising stature in African rugby.
Leave a comment