Nigeria Rugby League Association (NRLA) vice-chairman Ade Adebisi has outlined an ambitious plan to strengthen the country’s rugby league structure, with the long-term goal of bringing the Women’s Rugby League World Cup to Nigeria.
Adebisi, who also serves as the association’s general manager, said improving administrative standards and adopting international best practices would be essential to matching the growing abilities of Nigerian players on the global stage.
He made the remarks following his selection for a three-week operational deployment with the International Rugby League (IRL) World Cup 2026 team in Australia, alongside senior officials from France and Wales.
The programme represents the first initiative under the IRL’s Accelerator Nation programme, which aims to help emerging rugby league nations improve their administration, player development and international competitiveness.
Nigeria secured a place in the programme after finishing ahead of four invited applicants from the Middle East and Africa in a selection process overseen by the IRL Strategy Committee.
Adebisi said the experience would provide practical knowledge that could be applied to the administration and development of rugby league in Nigeria.
“What I bring back will go straight into how NRLA operates,” he said.
He stressed that Nigerian players had already demonstrated their ability to compete internationally, adding that the country’s administrative structures must develop to support their progress.
According to Adebisi, the experience would help the association establish stronger systems, improve governance and create a more professional environment for athletes, coaches and partners.
The IRL’s Accelerator Nation framework focuses on long-term development through school and university programmes, high-performance coaching, international tours and opportunities for players to join elite clubs abroad.
Adebisi said Nigeria intended to use the opportunity to expand participation at grassroots level while strengthening the structures required to sustain the sport’s growth.
He identified schools and universities as important pathways for introducing more young people to rugby league and building a stronger pool of future players.
The association also plans to develop its men’s and women’s programmes while investing in the training of coaches and match officials.
Adebisi further emphasised the importance of establishing a regular Middle East and Africa Championship for men’s and women’s national teams.
He said the competition should take place annually and meet standards recognised by the International Rugby League, providing teams with more consistent opportunities to compete and improve.
Regular international fixtures would also help emerging rugby league nations assess their progress, expose players to different styles of competition and prepare their teams for higher-level tournaments.
The development agenda comes after Nigeria’s women’s team narrowly missed qualification for the 2026 Women’s Rugby League World Cup.
The disappointment highlighted the gap between the country’s current level and the standards required to qualify for major international competitions.
Nigeria has since pursued opportunities to improve its competitive readiness and provide more regular international matches for developing teams.
Earlier initiatives have included proposals for competitions involving emerging rugby league nations that missed World Cup qualification, offering them additional opportunities to gain experience.
Adebisi said the association’s long-term ambition was not limited to improving results on the pitch but also included developing the organisational capacity required to host major international competitions.
He identified hosting the Women’s Rugby League World Cup as a future objective and described the current international development programme as an important step towards that ambition.
The vision would require sustained investment, effective administration, appropriate sporting facilities and collaboration with international governing bodies and development partners.
Adebisi acknowledged the importance of partnerships in achieving these goals, expressing appreciation to Alaro City for supporting the association’s efforts to build a sustainable future for rugby league in Nigeria.
The partnership is expected to contribute to the broader development agenda, which includes expanding participation, improving technical capacity and creating more opportunities for men and women to represent the country internationally.
Nigeria’s participation in the Accelerator Nation programme could also help strengthen relationships with established rugby league nations and provide access to expertise that may be difficult to develop locally without international cooperation.
However, hosting a World Cup remains a long-term ambition rather than a confirmed tournament award. The immediate priorities are to improve domestic structures, develop players and coaches, and provide the national teams with regular competitive opportunities.
For Adebisi and the NRLA, the challenge will be translating the experience gained in Australia into measurable improvements at home.
If sustained, the strategy could help Nigeria build a more competitive rugby league programme and strengthen its position in the international game while laying the groundwork for future hosting ambitions.
