Osunkwo Leads Stallions’ 12-Man Squad for World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers

Posted : 25 September 2026

Nigeria’s senior men’s rugby sevens team, the Stallions, will begin their campaign at the 2026 Africa World Rugby SVNS 3 qualifiers in Kampala, Uganda, on September 26. Eight African nations will compete for a place in the 2027 World Rugby SVNS 3 competition.

Onyekachi John-Osunkwo of Naka Bulls RFC in South Africa leads Nigeria’s 12-man squad. Ayemere Alinafe Oiyemhonlan of Austin Huns in the United States and Eze Kenechukwu of Barnes RFC in the United Kingdom are also included.

The three players will make their international sevens debuts for Nigeria in Kampala. Their inclusion gives head coach Steve Lewis an opportunity to introduce new talent to the national setup.

Nigeria have been drawn in Pool A alongside Zimbabwe, Ghana and Morocco. Hosts Uganda will compete in Pool B alongside Zambia, Tunisia and Senegal.

The Stallions will face Ghana in their opening pool match before taking on Morocco and Zimbabwe. Their performances across the three matches will determine their position in the knockout stage.

Lewis said the team is focused on making steady progress through international competition. The coach also highlighted the balance between experienced players and new talent in the squad.

“We are focused on steady progress. Every international tournament gives us another opportunity to test ourselves, learn and improve,” Lewis said.

The squad includes experienced players such as Gabriel Etim, John-Oluwatobiloba Anthony, Oghenesuvwe Obano, Matthew Ilube, Chukwuyem Henry-Ajudua, Daniel Christopher, Joshua Addams and Pierre Goualin.

Azeez Ladipo will manage the team, while Augustine Nwankwor will serve as the team medic. The squad features players based in Nigeria, South Africa, the United States and the United Kingdom.

The tournament carries an important qualification incentive for the participating teams. The winner will secure Africa’s qualification place for the 2027 World Rugby SVNS 3 competition.

The results will also contribute to the African men’s sevens rankings. Nigeria therefore have both qualification and ranking objectives to pursue during the two-day tournament.

For the Stallions, the competition represents another opportunity to measure their progress against leading teams on the continent. It also gives the national programme a chance to expose emerging players to international rugby.

Nigeria’s participation comes as the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation continues to focus on player development, stronger domestic structures and increased international exposure. The federation has also called for continued support from sponsors, corporate partners and rugby supporters.

The Stallions will hope to turn that preparation into positive results when the competition begins at the Kyadondo Rugby Grounds in Kampala. Their performance will determine whether Nigeria advances into the decisive stages of the qualification tournament.

Osunkwo Leads Stallions’ 12-Man Squad for World Rugby SVNS 3 Qualifiers

ADD A COMMENT :

Hot Topics