GO ahead, I dare you to name your top Nigerian rugby player of all time. Victor Ubogu' Ayoola Erinle' Steve Ojomoh' Adedayo Adebayo' My vote would probably go to Victor Ubogu the giant prop and human wrecking ball who caused mayhem in the loose whenever he played for England in the 1990's. Or Ayoola Erinle, the dynamite finisher who played on the wing. Also for England!What's this' Why are all Nigeria's best known players playing for England. The truth of the matter is that's where most of Nigeria's best rugby talent learned the game and where they had the opportunity to demonstrate their undoubted abilityWhen the NRFF announced the squad to represent Nigeria in the Confederation of African Africa Cup Group C tournament in Botswana, come July, you wouldn't have been punished for asking 'Who' Never hear of him.' Such is the level of awareness of rugby in Nigeria.But all that could be about to change. Among the 24 young players and three reserves named are the core of a team with the potential to start writing Nigerian rugby history and their names into the record books.The management and coaching team have been working hard to assemble a squad that comprises the best of the players plying their trade at home with the Nigerian's living and playing in England and the US but who qualify to represent Nigeria.'It's been a difficult task,' admitted Steve Lewis, the head coach, 'we haven't had much opportunity to see all the players, especially those overseas, but we are in constant touch with Mark Deans, the team manager in England, and he has been able to give us reports on the players there.'With a small pool of players who get a chance to play regularly back home, and who therefor lack match experience and game time, it makes sense for the NRFF to tap into the large pool of players overseas. Players like David Akiluyi who played professionally for Northampton Saints and has been in training with the England 7s team and his brother Emmanuel, and the Worrincy brothers Rob and Michael. That these players have decided to represent Nigeria is a major fillip to the national team and their experience will be dearly needed when Nigeria's international season kicks off against Mauritius before taking on Cameroon and Botswana in the Botswana capital Gaberone.If Nigeria win their pool they then get moved up to Group B next year and if the God's shine their light on Nigerian rugby and they win the B Section next year they will then play in Africa Group A with the opportunity to go to the IRB World Cup qualifiers in 2014. Nobody really gives them a real chance to go all the way so soon but the door is open.Whatever happens, the experience of all the best of the home and away based players training and playing together is something to look forward to. It's a chance for Nigerian rugby to place a stake in the ground, to say to the IRB and all the doubters that there's a sleeping giant that is starting to stir.For the players themselves there's plenty of hard work ahead, plenty of sweat to be worked up and reputations to be made. It might be too early to say that 2012 could be a watershed year for Nigerian rugby, but it's not beyond imagination.The Nigerian squad for the CAR Africa Cup in Botswana is:Forwards: Francis Ugwu, Eze Udochukwu, Felix Ogbole, Shola Odele, Adedoyin Layade, Olawale Doherty, Obi Wilson, Emmanuel Ayewe, Chukwuma Osazuwa, Emmanuel Akinluyi, Nsa Harrison, Michael WorrincyBacks: Craig Olugbode, David Akinluyi, Temitope Okenla, Nuhu Ibrahim, Samson Yayah, Tiwaloluwa Obisesan, Michael Adeniya, Ali Shelleng, Ese Enajerow, Jamie Davies, Rob Worrincy, Ibi ShellengStandby Players: Ejike Uzoigbe, Ade Adebisi, Jay Udo-Udoma, Joseph MogajiCoaches: Steve Lewis, Martin CrawfordTeam Manager: Mark DeanHead PropsOne of the great things about rugby is that it can be played by athletes of all shapes and sizes. Take the front row of forwards for instance made up of two props on either side of the hooker in between them. These are the barrel-chested guys you know who don't have a neck, they normally just have a head on top of a pair of massive shoulders and thighs like tree trunks. The often have nicknames like 'Beast' and are not the guys you want to meet in a dark alley.Loose Head PropThe loose head prop is the player who takes the left hand position on the front row of the scrum. A loose head prop traditionally wears the number 1 shirt.The scrum half always feeds the ball into a scrum on the loose head props side.Tight Head PropThe tight head prop is the player who takes the right-hand position on the front row of the scrum and wears the number 3 shirt. He is named the tight head since in the scrum he will have an opposition player bind to both his left and right hand side, meaning his head is unexposed to the side of the scrum as opposed to the loose head, whose left-hand side is exposed.08033843683archtheadman@gmail.com
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