Barely days after his re-election as President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF), Dr. Ademola Are has unveiled his board’s first major initiative — an international friendly between Nigeria and Ghana.

The encounter, tagged “The Heritage Cup,” will hold at the University of Ghana Rugby Stadium, Accra, rekindling the historic rivalry between the Stallions of Nigeria and the Ghana Eagles.

The friendly will be the first official engagement of the new board, which was elected last Saturday at the Indoor Sports Hall of the MKO Abiola Stadium, Abuja.

Dr. Are said the match aligns with the federation’s plan to keep players active and maintain competitive fitness. “This match is part of our strategy to keep the players engaged while we finalize modalities for the league’s kickoff. Our focus is on inclusivity — ensuring every geopolitical zone is represented,” he explained.

He reaffirmed the NRFF’s commitment to women’s rugby, describing it as a “key pillar” of their development plan.

“The Rugby Rising initiative gives more women a platform to participate in the game, which will strengthen our female league. We’re also set to host the Rugby Africa Regional Women’s Sevens Championship next year, featuring teams from across West Africa,” he said.