Nigeria is targeting stronger international competition and a possible Women’s Rugby League World Cup hosting bid after becoming the first African country selected for the International Rugby League’s Accelerator Nation programme.
The Nigeria Rugby League Association said the initiative would help improve its administration, develop players and coaches, and strengthen its capacity to organise international competitions.
Nigeria emerged from a months-long selection process involving four invited applicants from the Middle East and Africa region, according to the IRL. The programme began in 2025 with France, Wales and Papua New Guinea before expanding to include representatives from the Americas and the Middle East and Africa.
As part of the initiative, NRLA Vice-President and General Manager Ade Adebisi has joined officials from France and Wales on a three-week placement with the operations team for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Adebisi is working alongside France’s Mathilde Marchand and Wales’ Rob Deeney to gain experience in the organisation of the sport’s biggest international competition.
“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.”
The programme is designed to improve development pathways from junior competitions to senior men’s and women’s 13-a-side rugby league. It also provides opportunities for coaching development, high-performance training, international tours and placements with elite overseas clubs.
Adebisi said the association intended to use the opportunity to expand participation in schools and universities while improving its men’s and women’s teams and developing coaches and match officials.
The NRLA also wants the Middle East and Africa Championship to be held annually for both men’s and women’s international teams in line with IRL-recognised standards.
“Our long-term ambition is for Nigeria to host a Women’s Rugby League World Cup, and this is an important step towards that,” he said.
The association acknowledged the support of Alaro City, which is partnering with it on plans for a proposed N15bn centre of excellence for rugby league and other sports.
The planned facility is expected to support athlete training and wider sports development, although details of its funding, construction schedule and delivery arrangements have not been announced.
Nigeria’s selection gives the association an opportunity to strengthen its domestic structures and improve its competitiveness on the international stage. However, hosting a World Cup would require further investment in facilities, funding, administration and competition infrastructure.
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