By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos Plans in top gear by the,Nigeria Green Falcons who defeated Ireland with a 10 points to nil in the hard fought fir
By; AYO OJEDOKUN, Lagos
Plans in top gear by the,Nigeria Green Falcons who defeated Ireland with a 10 points to nil in the hard fought first Semi-final of the Women’s World Rugby League Series in Canada, to square up against the Fijian Women Rugby League team, who demolished their hosts the Canada Women Rugby League Team in the second semi finals at the same venue by 48 points to nil.
On paper, the Canadian Team was said to be the favourites especially given the fact that they were expecting some players back from the just concluded Women 15’s Rugby Union World Cup in England last month. However, it was the Fijian Women that carried the day against the hosts Canada.
On Sunday earlier in the day, Ireland will lock horns with hosts Canada in the third place bronze match, while Nigeria who are almost playing the same style of play with their Fijian counterparts will face each other in a Titanic epoch making encounter for the sole slot to participate at the Rugby League World Cup in Australia next year 2026.
It will interest to note that both teams are vying to make history by qualifying for their first world cup appearance.
Fidelia Omoghan scored the first Try from a breakdown play in the Ireland’s 10m yardline, while Rachel Iliya intercepted the pass from the Irish player to score the second Try through her blistering 75m solo run.
Wednesday’s game was a very tough and crunchy one for the Green Falcons, being their first encounter with a more professional outfit. Umude Blessing needs quick recovery from knock on her knee, whilst other players will recover as soon as they finish with their Doctor and Psysiotherapists sessions.
The Fiji’s women’s rugby league team, known as the Bulikula, has never qualified for the Rugby League World Cup, just like the Green Falcons of Nigeria who are aiming at making history as the first Rugby team from Nigeria to ever qualify for the Rugby League and other Oval Game World Cup.
Meanwhile, the Green Falcons and the Nigeria Rugby League Association have received a huge encouragement from the Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, who sent a congratulating message to the Nigeria Women’s National Rugby league team for their historic win over Ireland to book a place in the final of the IRL Women’s World Series in Canada.
The DG said this is the latest milestone in Nigerian sports, as the National Sports commission (NSC), continues to positively change the narrative across all sports in the country, as it has been witnessed in sports like taekwondo, badminton, cricket, swimming amongst others.
The Nigerian team led by coach Bolu Fagborun showed total resilience and defensive prowess to defeat the Irish team 10-0 in the semi final on Tuesday at the Terry Fox Stadium.
” I want to specifically commend the management and leadership of the Nigeria Rugby League for all their hard work behind the scene that has cumulated to this big achievement at this year’s World series in Canada by our beautiful ladies.
” This is another testament to the huge and vast talents the country has across the various sports and myself and Malam Shehu Dikko were brought here by Mr President to ensure we fully harness these talents to their full potentials, which is why we are seeing this kind of results”.
The DG further charged the team to make history when they take on Fiji in the final by becoming the first African team to win the IRL Women’s Rugby league World series.
The Nigeria Green Falcons will also create more history at the Terry Fox Stadium on Sunday, if they win by qualifying for the IRL Rugby League World Cup in 2026.
The Green Falcons not just carry the hope and aspirations of Nigeria, but of Africa as they will be the first African Women Rugby League to ever qualify for the Rugby League World Cup.
COMMENTS