By Obong Ntiense Williams
”Mr Rugby” 23.10.2025
Nigeria’s Green Falcons are set to square up against Fiji Island in the final of the Women’s World Rugby League Series in Canada.
The Green Falcons defeated Ireland with a 10 points to nil score in a hard fought first semi-final to set up the clash against Fiji. The Fijian Women Rugby League team demolished the hosts Canada in the second semi Finals at the same venue by 48 point to nil.
The Canadians were the favourites to win 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, the Fijian Women posted an upset victory.
On Sunday, Ireland will lock horns with host Canada in the 3rd Place Bronze match, in the first match of the day, while Nigeria who are almost playing the same style of play with their Fijian counterpart 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. Both teams are vying to make history by Qualifying for their first world cup appearance!
Fedelia 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 scored the second Try through her blistering 75m solo run.
The game was tough and crunchy 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, the Green Falcons, 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, continued 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 Director General of the National Sports Commission, NSC, Hon. Bukola Olopade, has congratulated the Nigeria Women’s National Rugby league team, the Green Falcons, for their historic win over Ireland to book a place in the final of the IRL women’s World series in Canada.
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.
The DG said this is the latest milestone in Nigerian sports, as the National Sports commission, NSC, continued 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.
” 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 Mallam Shehu Dikko were brought here by Mr President to ensure we fully earnest 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 carries 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!
