Dr. Sunny Are, the President of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, has confirmed that rugby will be reinstated in the upcoming National Sports Festival in Enugu. 

He emphasized that the federation is actively developing strategies to prevent the circumstances that led to the sport's exclusion from the current festival in Ogun State from recurring.

In an interview with reporters in Abeokuta, Dr. Are explained that although rugby was initially included in the list of sports for the festival, it was removed due to disagreements from certain factions. 

He expressed disappointment over rugby's exclusion, noting that the federation is committed to ensuring its inclusion in the 23rd National Sports Festival, as the sport is gaining popularity among Nigerian youth. 

Dr. Are, who also serves on the Main Organizing Committee for the ongoing Gateway Games Ogun 2024, praised Ogun State Governor Prince Dapo Abiodun for the excellent infrastructure provided for the event, stating that these facilities will significantly enhance athlete performance.

He urged other states to follow Ogun's example by investing in similar sports infrastructure to support the nation's sports development goals led by Mallam Shehu Dikko.