Adebisi aims for World Cup success for Nigeria Rugby

Nigeria Rugby League Association vice-chairman, Ade Adebisi, has said that adopting global best practices in sports management is key to keeping up with the rising talent of Nigerian athletes internationally.

Adebisi, who is also the General Manager of the association, shared this during an event where senior officials from Nigeria, France, and Wales joined the International Rugby League World Cup 2026 operations team in Australia for a three-week training program. This program is the first outcome of the IRL’s Accelerator Nation initiative, aimed at improving competitive standards globally.

Nigeria was selected to be part of this exclusive group after outperforming four other invited applicants from the Middle East and Africa in a tough selection process by the IRL Strategy Committee.

Adebisi spoke about the significance of this achievement, noting that the experience gained from this elite tournament will greatly improve how rugby is run in Nigeria.

"What I bring back will go straight into how NRLA operates," Adebisi said.

"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."

Future Plans for Rugby in Nigeria

The Accelerator Nation program focuses on extensive growth across different levels, including school and university programs, high-performance coaching, international tours, and player placements in top foreign clubs.

With support from Alaro City, Adebisi outlined the association’s ambitious plans for the sport's future.

"Our focus is on growth at every level: expanding the game in schools and universities, strengthening both our men’s and women’s programs, and developing coaches and officials," Adebisi explained.

"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-recognized 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."