Clubs told to look towards Africa and Africans here.

[The Future is League]

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/31909861/rugby-league-uk-africa-england-nigeria/

[JM2010]

I’ve said this on here before. Nigeria has a big diaspora in the UK plus a massive population. If RL tapped into the communities in England as well as investing in the domestic set up in Nigeria the rewards could be massive. Firstly, new talent and supporters could be unearthed for the SL clubs and England national team as well as helping create a strong Nigerian team to compete with some of the NH nations. 
Jamaica are another country with a lot of potential who would benefit from this approach 

[Dullish Mood]

The S*n you say?   nah….

[Mumby Magic]

There's a fair few Afican born players playing within our game atm.

[Phil]

35 minutes ago, JM2010 said:

I’ve said this on here before. Nigeria has a big diaspora in the UK plus a massive population. If RL tapped into the communities in England as well as investing in the domestic set up in Nigeria the rewards could be massive. Firstly, new talent and supporters could be unearthed for the SL clubs and England national team as well as helping create a strong Nigerian team to compete with some of the NH nations. 
Jamaica are another country with a lot of potential who would benefit from this approach 

Key word there is “invest” 

I don’t disagree at all with what you say but investment? Can’t see it happening for all the usual reasons of short termism etc.

As ever I’d love to be wrong 

[JohnM]

17 minutes ago, Dullish Mood said:

The S*n you say?   nah….

The SUN is merely reporting what former player Ade Adebisi said, "Former player Ade Adebisi, leading Nigeria Rugby League, is behind the push towards Africa and believes a wealth of stars is waiting to be unearthed."

[corkonian77]

Football  is where the money  is. The West African  populations tend to drift towards that sport  as they have role models and even If they don't hit the big time  wages as high as £3,000 a week  in National  League  are not unheard of. 

[The Future is League]

23 minutes ago, JohnM said:

The SUN is merely reporting what former player Ade Adebisi said, "Former player Ade Adebisi, leading Nigeria Rugby League, is behind the push towards Africa and believes a wealth of stars is waiting to be unearthed."

Anything that shows the game in a favourable is fine with me

[The Future is League]

15 minutes ago, corkonian77 said:

Football  is where the money  is. The West African  populations tend to drift towards that sport  as they have role models and even If they don't hit the big time  wages as high as £3,000 a week  in National  League  are not unheard of. 

Not everybody is capable of playing football to a standard where they can earn that sort of money in African football, and not everybody wants to play football.

If as a game we can tap into that element we will never know.

[gingerjon]

42 minutes ago, corkonian77 said:

Football  is where the money  is. The West African  populations tend to drift towards that sport  as they have role models and even If they don't hit the big time  wages as high as £3,000 a week  in National  League  are not unheard of. 

In every population demographic we will lose potential players to football.

[corkonian77]

29 minutes ago, The Future is League said:

Not everybody is capable of playing football to a standard where they can earn that sort of money in African football, and not everybody wants to play football.

If as a game we can tap into that element we will never know.

In Ireland  most of the persons of West African  heritage  or indeed birth play Football  or Basketball. 

However some such players have played for Ireland in Union for Ireland. The Edogbo family  of Cobh comes to mind. 

 

Edited November 25, 2024 by corkonian77

[Eddie]

I doubt any SL club has spare money to invest in African rugby league in a meaningful way, the sport isn’t exactly awash with it. 

[Father Gascoigne]

58 minutes ago, corkonian77 said:

Football  is where the money  is. The West African  populations tend to drift towards that sport  as they have role models and even If they don't hit the big time  wages as high as £3,000 a week  in National  League  are not unheard of. 

Hakeem Olajuwon and Joel Embiid didn't take up basketball until 15. Needless to say, they've had a big impact on that sport, winning several MVPs, finals MVPs and NBA championships between them. 

I imagine both have had an enormous impact on the attitude the average Nigerian or Cameroonian has towards basketball.

It is possible to make something of it in rugby league. Like anything, it requires effort, dedication and money. That doesn't make it easy, though, especially concerning funding. 

Edited November 25, 2024 by Father Gascoigne

[JohnM]

As the global governing body for the sport of Rugby League, the role of International Rugby League (IRL) is to Foster, develop, promulgate, promote, govern and administer the game of rugby league throughout the world...

About the IRL

 

[M j M]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

The SUN is merely reporting what former player Ade Adebisi said, "Former player Ade Adebisi, leading Nigeria Rugby League, is behind the push towards Africa and believes a wealth of stars is waiting to be unearthed."

Thanks for the info, on behalf of everyone who would never click a link to that website.

[The Future is League]

2 hours ago, JohnM said:

The SUN is merely reporting what former player Ade Adebisi said, "Former player Ade Adebisi, leading Nigeria Rugby League, is behind the push towards Africa and believes a wealth of stars is waiting to be unearthed."

Hopefully he can recommend any promising young players based here to professional clubs.

[Martyn Sadler]

4 hours ago, The Future is League said:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/31909861/rugby-league-uk-africa-england-nigeria/

I don't know whether the first photo in that article is of the Nigerian women's team but it's a fabulous photo that would do a lot to promote the idea of women playing Rugby League.

I've recommended to the IRL that they invite an African men's and women's team, whether Nigeria or Africa as a whole, to the next World Cup Nines competition, if one ever takes place.

Emerging nations playing in a shortened form of the game is the way to go to generate greater interest and participation, similar to the role of Sevens in the other code.

[burnleywelsh]

“You can’t coach strength, you can’t coach speed but the rest can be and clubs can say, ‘We were part of Nigeria making the Rugby League World Cup.’

“We’ve never had an African nation in that before, men’s or women’s.

A bit dismissive of South Africa's efforts in playing in two World Cups from Ade.

[JohnM]

6 minutes ago, burnleywelsh said:

“You can’t coach strength, you can’t coach speed but the rest can be and clubs can say, ‘We were part of Nigeria making the Rugby League World Cup.’

“We’ve never had an African nation in that before, men’s or women’s.

A bit dismissive of South Africa's efforts in playing in two World Cups from Ade.

Ade says, "You can’t coach strength, you can’t coach speed"

Not much point, then,  in elite athletes having coaches and having training sessions. 

[JM2010]

2 hours ago, Eddie said:

I doubt any SL club has spare money to invest in African rugby league in a meaningful way, the sport isn’t exactly awash with it. 

How much work do SL clubs do to get into the African communities in their area? This would be a good starting point. I’d assume some are better than others. 

[OMEGA]

Wouldn’t use that newspaper to pick dog shiz up let alone read it

Edited November 25, 2024 by OMEGA

[EggFace]

4 hours ago, JM2010 said:

I’ve said this on here before. Nigeria has a big diaspora in the UK plus a massive population. If RL tapped into the communities in England as well as investing in the domestic set up in Nigeria the rewards could be massive. Firstly, new talent and supporters could be unearthed for the SL clubs and England national team as well as helping create a strong Nigerian team to compete with some of the NH nations. 
Jamaica are another country with a lot of potential who would benefit from this approach 

It should West Indian and West African as you can include Trinadad and Ghana etc.

[burnleywelsh]

4 minutes ago, EggFace said:

It should West Indian and West African as you can include Trinadad and Ghana etc.

Sorry, what point are you trying to make here?

[JM2010]

Have Nigeria played many games this year? I think a combination of playing against Ghana, Cameroon etc at home mid season with domestic players then getting some games over in the UK with British based players added to the squad against Ireland, Wales, Scotland and maybe even Jamaica in places with large Nigerian communities would help build their profile

[Dullish Mood]

5 hours ago, JohnM said:

The SUN is merely reporting what former player Ade Adebisi said, "Former player Ade Adebisi, leading Nigeria Rugby League, is behind the push towards Africa and believes a wealth of stars is waiting to be unearthed."

Not for me chief.  Horrible rag.