Rugby: Adebisi eyes World Cup vision for Nigeria

File: Nigeria Rugby League Association vice-chairman, Ade Adebisi

Nigeria Rugby League Association vice-chairman, Ade Adebisi, has emphasised that absorbing global administrative best practices is vital to matching the rising calibre of Nigerian athletes on the international stage.

Adebisi, who also doubles as the General Manager of the association, made this known as senior officials from Nigeria, France, and Wales were officially embedded into the International Rugby League World Cup 2026 operations team in Australia for an intensive three-week deployment. The initiative marks the inaugural output of the IRL’s Accelerator Nation programme, designed to elevate competitive standards worldwide.

Nigeria secured its place in the exclusive cohort after emerging ahead of four invited Middle East and Africa applicants following a rigorous selection process managed by the IRL Strategy Committee.

Reflecting on the milestone, Adebisi stressed that the rare exposure to elite tournament delivery will directly overhaul domestic operations back home.

“What I bring back will go straight into how NRLA operates,” Adebisi stated.

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“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 framework targets robust multi-tiered growth, encompassing school and university pathways, high-performance coaching, international tours, and player secondments to elite foreign clubs.

Buoyed by key partnership support from Alaro City, Adebisi outlined the association’s ambitious long-term roadmap for the sport.

“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.”