Rugby: Green Falcons Reach IRL World Series Final

The Green Falcons, Nigeria’s women’s rugby league team, booked a place in the IRL World Series final after a dominant 10–0 win over Ireland in Canada.
With the victory, the Green Falcons advanced to the final against Fiji, marking a major milestone in their international campaign.
Ranked 17th globally, Nigeria stood firm against eighth-ranked Ireland, with Fedelia Omoghan scoring the first try of the match.
In spite of missing the conversion, Nigeria’s strong defence prevented Ireland from finding a breakthrough throughout the first half.
Omoghan’s try gave the Falcons a narrow 4–0 lead at half-time, with the team showing remarkable composure under pressure.
In the second half, Ireland pressed hard for a try, but Nigeria’s defence held firm against sustained attacks.
Captain Rachael Illya turned defence into attack, intercepting a loose ball and racing 65 yards to score Nigeria’s second try.
Shondell Akhabue successfully converted, extending the Falcons’ lead to 10 points and sealing the victory.
Reacting to the win, Akhabue said it marked the coming of age of women’s rugby league in Nigeria, adding that she felt honoured representing the country.
“It means so much to the nation itself. You could see it in our reaction when the final whistle went,” she said.
She described the moment as deeply emotional, noting that it strengthened her connection to her Nigerian heritage.
“It was just a blessing to experience it, and to move on to the next step,” she added.
Team captain Blessing Aladeyelu expressed joy over the team’s achievement, saying the victory made all their sacrifices worthwhile.
“There’s emotion everywhere. I feel so happy, tired, weak, but the victory covers everything. This is a blessing to me and to Nigeria,” she said.
Vice Chairman of the Nigeria Rugby League Association, Ade Adebisi, said the result showed Nigeria’s rapid progress in world rugby.
“We just played a rugby nation with decades of experience. Our ladies have only been playing for about four years,” Adebisi said.
He added that greater investment could help Nigeria achieve even more success in the sport.
Nigeria will face Fiji in the final after Fiji defeated Canada 48–0 in the second semi-final.
The Green Falcons will miss Blessing Umude in the final after she sustained an injury during the Ireland match.
The final winner will qualify as the eighth and last team for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Nigeria’s Green Falcons are the reigning champions of the Middle East and Africa region.