How IRL World Series 2025 created a legacy for competing nations

Fiji qualified for next year's World Cup following October’s IRL Women's Rugby League World Series victory in Canada, but each of the four participating nations has highlighted how preparations for the tournament strengthened their respective women's programmes, and the federations themselves. 
  
Canada also hosted Nigeria and Ireland - both of whom won their respective regional championships in 2024 to qualify for the world series - at the four-match tournament in Brampton, Ontario, with Nigeria upsetting Ireland to reach the final. The event itself capped a full year of comprehensive and exhaustive preparations for the four federations, all of whom went to extraordinary efforts on and off the field. 
 
“What we saw in Toronto was the culmination of more than a year of dedication, sacrifice, and belief from every participant and team involved in the world series," said IRL Women and Girls Advisory Group Chair Katrina Fanning, who led a Canberra Raiders delegation to Ontario and watched all four games. "The performances on the field were extraordinary - but equally inspiring were the stories behind them: the training sessions after long workdays, the community fundraising, the balancing of family and career commitments, and the shared determination to represent their nations with pride." 
 
For Fiji, some of the benefits of winning the World Series and qualifying for RLWC26 include greater sponsorship, government support and awareness of the Bulikula and women’s rugby league. 
 
“A successful national team provides a positive brand for companies to associate with, which can lead to a long term partnership,” Fiji Bulikula director Etika Rokobuli said. “Government support is often tied to the national team's success and ability to represent on the world stage. The achievement by the Fiji Bulikula specifically provides a powerful argument for the government to increase focus and investment in women's sports programs across the nation. The team's successes generate national pride which governments are keen to support and be associated with.” 

There were also significant benefits for the other three nations, despite missing out on the final women's RLWC26 berth. 

High performance framework

The Nigerian Rugby League Association, through its partnership with Alaro City, hosted a high performance camp that saw players and staff from Australia, Canada and the UK join locally-based colleagues for a week at Rugby School Nigeria then two weeks at Alaro City, with both venues boasting elite, international-standard facilities. NRLA Vice- Chairman Ade Adebisi hailed "a logistical milestone" - the first time NRLA successfully integrated a multinational delegation under one high-performance framework. "It unified overseas-based professionals with domestic players and coaches, strengthening squad cohesion and professionalism before the tournament," he said. 
 
As part of the camp, Nigeria welcomed neighbours Ghana for two Senior International Matches, which Nigeria won 40-0 and 24-8. 

Ireland fullback Lily Rogan attempts to stop a break by Nigerian centre Abiola Obazuaye. Photo: Colin Watson. 

The inaugural World Series hosts ensured their players had a variety of experiences throughout the year, including a national trials camp in Calgary, Alberta, which afforded new head coach Matt Barron the opportunity to see western Canadian talent up close. Following this camp the Ravens, who defeated Ireland to place third at the World Series, toured Fiji in August, playing Fiji Rise Academy and the Bulikula Residents.  
 
"All these actions have helped create a more sustainable women’s program," said Canada Rugby League Association president John Cameron, "and along with maintaining a full, balanced calendar, our next step towards long-term sustainability is on building the Under 19s pipeline for future Ravens." 
 
Rugby League Ireland held monthly training sessions and confirmed record numbers of players participating in the local three-team championship. Sport Ireland, the government sports agency, extended its funding for local women's development through the 'Women in Sport' programme, which has seen tens of thousands of euros invested into rugby league. In the summer, the national team hosted France in a historic first, losing 34-4 against the highest ranked opponent Ireland has ever played, before undertaking final preparations with an away victory against Netherlands two weeks before departing for Ontario.

Organisational growth 

Besides achieving an “historic goal”, Bulikula director Etika Rokobuli said World Cup qualification had proved the value of the FNRL’s development programmes. “The squad included players from the FNRL's Rise Rookie program, validating the grassroots and development initiatives and showing a clear pathway for local talent,” Rokobuli said. “The international exposure and high stakes environment in Canada served as a crucial development opportunity for players and supporting staff, bringing them up to world-class operational standards.” 
 
From an organisational growth perspective, NRLA felt that its operational experience grew markedly, as did its internal leadership systems and technical knowledge. Those experiences will now be transferred to its already successful grassroots programmes, such as the iTry Rugby League Schools Development Program in Kano State, which employs four full time coaches and has reached over 2,000 secondary school students, supported by state-level championships involving over 1,000 participants in competitive rugby league. The model will now be rolled out in Lagos, in partnership with the Ministry of Education, which is also supporting a university rugby league project.  
 
Canada was able to proficiently host a nine-day event by cultivating its internal organisation functions, recruiting and training a volunteer corps and acquiring new talent in the fields of PR and government relations. Its ability to manage large events and game-day operations has been greatly enhanced. 

Ravens forward Megan Pakulis charges into the Bulikula defence. Photo: Colin Watson

"Apart from attendance by the Mayor, CRLA leadership were able to have dedicated time with cabinet ministers for sport, and also women, proving an invaluable opportunity for the organisation to make the case for more support,” Cameron said. “These meetings would not have happened, and at this duration, without the event." 
 
City of Brampton support was a key ingredient in CRLA's winning bid last year, and it is one that CRLA feels will be helpful in the future, both directly and through the commercial links it developed, particularly in the sectors of medical, broadcast, food vending and event promotion. One of the most encouraging outcomes of hosting the event was the relationship the City of Brampton helped cement between the CRLA and Canada's national public broadcaster, the CBC, which streamed all four games, attracting over 45,000 viewers – more than some high profile international events shown on the same channel.

A sustainable pipeline  

Ireland's Board is now 40% female and with the launch of a new three-year women's strategy, endorsed by Sport Ireland, the governing body sees growth opportunities abound. Chair Jim Reynolds said, "Our firm belief is that it all starts with our women’s domestic league and immediate focus is on that, to improve standards, coaching, and officiating. We want our women’s international game to be driven from there." 

Following an intensive year, Adebisi is confident about Nigeria's growing momentum and sustainability: "The NRLA’s World Series journey has been more than a competition, it has been a catalyst for organisational maturity, international collaboration, and sustainable growth. Through strategic partnerships, professional training structures, and focused youth programs in Lagos and Kano, NRLA is laying the foundation for Nigeria to become a leading rugby league nation in Africa and a respected global contributor to the sport’s development." 
 
Cameron concluded: "Though our goal to qualify for the World Cup was not met, what is different about this experience versus previous [ones] is that it feels less like a one and done approach - which led to large ebbs and flows in [player] registration, and questions on sustainability post RLWC. 
 
"After the Fiji loss, the women got back out on the pitch, and won a convincing, ranking match against Ireland. The next matches are already pencilled in for 2026, we have the strongest membership and corporate support in years, and are discussing how to continue following the IRL model of a sustainable pipeline."

Canada's Petra Woods finds a gap in the Irish defence. Photo: Colin Watson. 

In November, CRLA was notified that it is now eligible for federal funding and will be submitting a bid to the Department of Canadian Heritage. The world series also prompted a local web development agency to establish contact and take on the NF as a partner. 
 
"I had the privilege of attending and witnessing firsthand the skill, passion, and sportswomanship that define this growing movement," said Fanning. "This world series was not just a tournament — it was a reflection of how far the women’s game has come, the durability of those building it, and the collective belief in what’s possible when opportunity meets hard work. The future of international rugby league is in very strong hands.”