Saturday\u2019s Second ABK Beer Ashes Test on Merseyside isn\u2019t the only international Rugby League taking place in the north-west this weekend.<\/p>\n
About 100 miles further up the coast on Sunday at Barrow\u2019s Northern Competitions Stadium, the Cumbria representative team will make a welcome return, for their first fixture for two years \u2013 against a Nigeria team who will be playing their first competitive fixture outside Africa.<\/p>\n
Nigerian Rugby League has made impressive progress in the six years since initial stirrings in 2019. The men\u2019s team won the Middle East \/ Africa (MEA) Championships in 2019 and 2023, while the women\u2019s team offered further evidence of the Rugby League talent in Africa\u2019s most populous nation \u2013 with its global diaspora \u2013 when they beat Ireland in the World Cup qualifying tournament in Canada earlier this month.<\/p>\n
Adam Sada, a former London Broncos player who plays a key role for Nigeria Rugby League based in the UK, explained:<\/p>\n
\u201cThat was an incredible result, when you think there are a lot of Nigeria-based players in the team, and that the development of women\u2019s Rugby League in Nigeria is even more recent than the men\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were beaten by Fiji in the final of the qualifying competition but that certainly not disgraced against very strong and experienced opposition.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe potential for Nigeria Rugby League is huge, and that\u2019s why we\u2019re so pleased to be playing this first match outside Africa for our men\u2019s team.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s not necessarily our strongest team, with guys like Jayden Okunbur unavailable. But it\u2019s a good chance for us to assess our UK-based talent, with a mix of professional and amateur players \u2013 and it works for us and Cumbria as a fixture, as they were keen to get a game in front of their fans in Barrow.\u201d<\/p>\n
Rio Corkill \u2013 the Barrow-born forward who made a single Super League appearance for St Helens in 2022, and whose full name of Rio-Osayomwanbo reflects his Nigerian heritage \u2013 has been a key figure in confirming the match.<\/p>\n
Cumbria, coached by Barrow\u2019s Paul Crarey, have the new Hull FC signing Harvie Hill in their squad as well as Brad Singleton, a veteran of the Cumbrian cause.<\/p>\n
Tickets are available in advance at \u00a320 for adults, \u00a35 for children, with a family ticket for two adults and up to children for \u00a345 \u2013 and a VIP package also available. Click here <\/a>for full details.<\/p>\n