News
Barewa Dominates Atlantic Rugby 7s Championship
Victorious Barewa Rugby FC clinched the maiden edition of the Atlantic Rugby 7s tournament over the weekend after beating Cowrie RFC 19–0 at the final played in Lagos. Dominating the game at Rugby School Nigeria, Eko Atlantic City, Victoria Island, Barewa battled for possession, defended stoutly, and scored with ruthless efficiency.
On the women’s side, AJ Sharks defeated Edo Queens 7–0 to lift the trophy. They won the game by dominating their opponents with organized defense and quick attacking plays. A lot of passion for the men’s and women’s rugby was to help promote the growth of rugby and build stronger home games across the country.
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“The competition was organized to give our players playing time,” the General Manager of the Nigeria Rugby Football Federation (NRFF) said. We are rebuilding domestic rugby, and tournaments like this will go a long way to provide playing time for our athletes.”
Boosting the Popularity of Rugby
Ladipo said the competition served as a platform for the international rugby tournament slated for later in the year. In Nigeria, next to football and cricket, rugby is extremely popular, and continues to get more coverage and attention on media channels, including social media and betting sites in Nigeria.
“This competition affords us the opportunity to spot talents that can be called to play for the country in the international tournament,” Ladipo added. The federation is already making preparations for the Africa Rugby Sevens tournament, which will be held later in the year in Mauritius.”
Eleven teams representing the federation competed in the tournament. Kano, Rivers, Edo, Ogun, and Lagos states had teams that participated in the competition, while the Nigerian Police Force also fielded a team.
Nunayon Travih, Director of Sport at the Lagos State Sports Commission, believes the tournament aligns with the Lagos vision for youth development through sports.
“The introduction of the rugby sevens tournament is timely as the Lagos State Sport Commission is focusing on youth development through sports,” Travih said. “This will allow the young ones to start very early and widen the pool,” he said, stressing that early introduction of the sport would help deepen grassroots development.”
He said plans were underway by the state government to bring rugby to secondary schools in Lagos.
News
Bukayo Saka Parries Concern Over His Injury Status, After Missing England’s 4-2 Victory Versus Croatia
Arsenal star, Bukayo Saka has parried worries over his injury status and insists he is ready to play for England at the ongoing FIFA World Cup, where he sat out his team’s opening match on Wednesday, Sports247 reports.
England dumped Croatia 4-2 at AT&T Stadium in Dallas, Texas in their Group L opener, but Saka was not part of The Three Lions’ squad that got deserved revenge for their loss to the same country in the Russia 2018 semi-finals.
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The Gunners’ winger was always a major worry ahead of Wednesday’s game, as he is still recovering from a nagging achilles injury that he picked up earlier this season with his club.
However, Saka said he is feeling better and ready to play the next game, as he is eager to defy all odds, but admitted that it all depends on The Lions’ coach, Thomas Tuchel, who decides the squad’s line-up.
“I don’t want to say anything that goes against the manager. But what I would say between Mikel (Arteta) and Arsenal, since March, they have managed me amazingly and helped me get back on the pitch.
“I am feeling better than I have felt for the last few months. I am ready to go. As players it’s the biggest gamble, especially if you’re not feeling your sharpest. You have the choice whether you don’t play or you put yourself out there knowing people are going to judge you.
“I’m happy to take the gamble. It (often pays) off, I’d say. I’m going to continue doing that. But I am feeling a lot better than I did in March and I’m ready to go,” Saka submitted philosophically.
Sports247 reports further that it’s now left to be seen if Tuchel will consider Saka fit enough to start against Ghana next week in England’s second game of the ongoing Mundial in USA, Canada and Mexico.
BY NKECHI NAECHE-ESEZOBOR—Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc has disclosed an insider transaction involving one of its directors, Dr. Akinade Ogunbiyi, who sold more than 1.5 million shares in the insurance company in a deal valued at over ₦6.3 million.
The disclosure, signed by Jide Ibitayo, Company Secretary, filed with the Nigerian Exchange (NGX) and the investing public, showed that Ogunbiyi, a Non-Executive Director of the company, disposed of 1,507,309 ordinary shares of Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc between June 3 and June 9, 2026.
According to the notification, the shares were sold at prices ranging from ₦4.20 to ₦4.33 per share, placing the total value of the transaction at between ₦6.33 million and ₦6.53 million.
The transaction was reported as an initial notification of insider dealing in line with regulatory requirements that mandate directors and other insiders of listed companies to disclose transactions involving the securities of their companies.
Mutual Benefits Assurance identified the financial instrument involved in the transaction as its ordinary shares, traded on the Nigerian Exchange under the ticker symbol “MBENEFIT.”
Insider dealing notifications are a key component of market transparency and corporate governance, providing investors with information on share transactions undertaken by directors, executives, and other individuals with access to potentially price-sensitive information.
While insider transactions often attract investor attention, market analysts note that such dealings do not necessarily indicate changes in a company’s outlook, as they may be influenced by personal investment decisions, portfolio rebalancing, or other financial considerations.
The disclosed transaction took place in Lagos, Nigeria, and was executed over a seven-day period between June 3 and June 9, 2026.
Mutual Benefits Assurance Plc remains one of the companies listed on the Nigerian Exchange that regularly complies with insider dealing disclosure requirements, reinforcing transparency in the capital market.
The post Insider Dealing: Mutual Benefits Director, Ogunbiyi Sells Shares Worth Over ₦6.3 Million appeared first on Business Today NG.
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