By Chinedu Nwosu, Special Correspondent and Celestine Okorie,  Correspondent South Africa

Rugby Union returned to the National Sports Festival (NSF) 2020 after a ten-year absence having missed out the last three editions held in Lagos, Rivers and Abuja.

The NSF is a biennial multi-sport event organized by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Sports Commission for athletes from the 36 States of Nigeria.

Rugby last featured as a medal winning event in Kaduna 2009 having debuted at the 2006 Gateway games in Ogun State. Prior to that, Rugby went through a mandatory demonstration in three consequent events.

Kano Men’s team won the seven gold medals at the Adolor College, venue of NSF Rugby having defeated all their opponents except for Team Edo who forced Kano to a 12-12 score line.

Delta recovered to pick up top spot in the ten’s event whilst Edo State team’s pack proved too strong in the fifteens event which secured gold for the host team.

In the Women’s competition, Edo State and Delta went toe to toe in all three events as team Edo emerged with gold medals in sevens and fifteens leaving Delta with the Gold medal in the ten’s event.

The National Sports Festival was postponed twice in 2020 as a precautionary move against COVID-19 spread.

Athletes from the 36 states and the FCT participated in the festival tagged “Edo 2020’’.