Nigeria Rugby League Association vice-chairman, Ade Adebisi, has said that adopting international administrative standards will be crucial to strengthening the country’s rugby league and sustaining the progress made by Nigerian athletes on the global stage.
Adebisi, who also serves as the association’s general manager, made this known following the selection of senior rugby officials from Nigeria, France and Wales for a three-week placement with the International Rugby League World Cup 2026 operations team in Australia.
The initiative is the first to emerge from the IRL’s Accelerator Nation programme, which aims to improve the development and competitiveness of rugby league across participating countries.
Nigeria earned a place in the programme after beating four other applicants from the Middle East and Africa in a selection process conducted by the IRL Strategy Committee.
Speaking on the opportunity, Adebisi said the experience would help the association improve its administrative processes and introduce better operational standards to the domestic game.
“What I bring back will go straight into how NRLA operates,” Adebisi stated.
“Our players have already shown they can compete internationally, and now our administration needs to match that standard. This experience will help us build stronger systems, better governance and a more professional environment for our athletes, coaches and partners.”
The Accelerator Nation programme is designed to promote sustainable development through school and university rugby, improved coaching, international tours and opportunities for players to join elite clubs abroad on secondment.
With support from its key partner, Alaro City, the association is also pursuing a broader development agenda aimed at expanding participation and improving the quality of the sport in Nigeria.
“Our focus is on growth at every level: expanding the game in schools and universities, strengthening both our men’s and women’s programmes, and developing coaches and officials,” Adebisi added.
“We also want to ensure the MEA Championship takes place every year for both men’s and women’s international teams, delivered to an IRL-recognised standard. We’re grateful to Alaro City for their support as a key partner, which is helping us build a sustainable future for the sport in Nigeria. Our long-term ambition is for Nigeria to host a Women’s Rugby League World Cup, and this is an important step towards that.”
