IRL Women's Rugby League World Series

Tue 21st October 2025   - KO  15:30 - Terry Fox Track & Field Stadium , Canada
Official: Kemoy Whyte (JAM)

Ireland

0

FT

10

Half Time
0 - 4

Nigeria

Tries

Fedelia Omoghan (14)
Rachel Iliya (69)

Goals

Shondell Akhabue (1/1)
Faustina Akeje (0/1)

Match preview: Ireland and Nigeria set for World Series opener

The four nations competing in the inaugural IRL World Series have completed their captain’s runs at the Terry Fox Stadium in Brampton, Ontario in rainy and windy weather ahead of the semi finals that start tomorrow (Tuesday).

Ireland will take on Nigeria followed by hosts Canada facing Fiji, with the winners meeting on Sunday to determine the final berth in the 2026 Women’s RL World Cup in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

The squads then travelled to Brampton Rugby Club for the official opening ceremony which included a recognition of the land, songs and storytelling from Pam Levi and a municipal address from Councillor Santos.

The matches will be streamed by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation on the following links – Ireland v Nigeria https://bit.ly/48JDIwF (kick off 3pm, local time) and Canada v Fiji bit.ly/4osUepi (6pm).

The head coaches of all four nations confirmed that they are prepared and ready to go.

Nigeria coach Bolu Fagborun said: “It’s been good getting our squad from four different continents together and getting used to the conditions. We’ve got some great athletes and seeing them go through their moves and plays, we’re really excited. We’re going to respect the competition, we’re the lowest ranked so a bit of an underdog and we’ll go in with that spirit to see where it gets us. The two games against Ghana were brilliant for us to correct stuff and try things out and combinations. Ireland have a great calibre of player and a strong heritage and we come with full respect for what they can bring.”

Ireland coach Matt Kennerson said: "We’ve acclimatised, and the girls are feeling good, we’re in sync and ready to go. We had a great hit out against the Netherlands, and we know Nigeria will be a different style to what we’re used to and that will present its own challenge, but we didn’t come all this way to come second, and we’ll be ready to go. If the conditions give us an extra helping hand, we’ll take it.”

Ravens coach Matt Barron said: “We’re feeling really positive, everyone’s come in with the right attitude, the players have really bought in. Irrespective of weather being wild and windy at the moment, we’ve got to focus on that not being a possible advantage and more on what we’ve planned. We have a big movement in Canada at the moment called “elbows up” and I’d hope anyone coming will really get behind us, our team needs it, and we won’t let them down.”

Fiji's Joe Dakuitoga said: “The preparation has brought the girls together and gelling under Cronulla head coach Tony Hammond, who is helping us out with our preparation. Up to 14 could be making their debut which shows the interest in representing us. We have our own process to follow and we have to worry about ourselves rather than the other nations, we are confident we can get there and training so hard to get to the World Cup. We are looking forward to this challenge.”

SQUADS

Canada
Maddy Aberg, Grace Campbell, Alanna Fittes, Danielle Franada, Rebecca Kochuk, Sarah Maguire (Alberta Broncos), Gabrielle Hindley, Ada Okonkwo, Alayna Scramstad (BC Storm), Megan Pakulis (Gold Coast Titans), Lauren Mueller (London Broncos), Eleta Mitton, Natasha Naismith, Candace Scholten, Beth Hoffstetter, Petra Woods (Ontario Osprey), Rachel Choboter (Otahuhu Leopards), Chantelle Crowl (St Helens RL), Caitlin Sears (Sydneham Rugby League)

Fiji
Tahila Marshall (Brisbane Tigers), Teaghan Hartigan, Ebony Laing, Sienna Laing (Burleigh Bears), Sereana Naitokatoka, Isabella Waterman (Canberra Raiders), Latisha Smythe (Canterbury Bulldogs), Cassie Staples (Cronulla Sharks), Elizabeth Naleba, Tanika Newton (Ipswich Jets), Leilani Asham (Newcastle Knights), Rory Muller (Paramatta Eels), Josiliva Vere Moceinacagi (Police Sharks), Kelilani Manu, Luisa Yaranamu (South Sydney Rabbitohs), Maria Paseka (St George Illawarra Dragons), Naomi Tegu, Kinisalote Vusawa  (USP Raiders), Joy Levy, (Wests Tigers)

Ireland

Tricia Doyle, Martha Dwyer (Aspley Devils), Jemma Gallagher (Corrimal Cougars), Aimee Clarke, Niamh Griffin, Emma Kelly, Cliodhna O’Sullivan, Anna Potterton (Dublin City Exiles), Stacy Hanley, Aifric Ní Ghibne (Galway Tribes), Storm Cobain, Mollie Young (Leigh Leopards), Iona McCusker, Polly Roberts, Jade Walker (London Broncos), Steph Carroll, Sarah Scambary (Mounties), Lily Rogan (Wests Tigers)

Nigeria
Chinaza Abbah, Faustina Akeje (Canterbury Bulldogs), Rachel Iliya, Endurance Ukwuoma, Blessing Umude (Eko Trinity), Rukayat Akinade, Blessing Aladeyelu, Lauretta Bayere, Adaeze Innocent (Lagos Bulls), Danyelle Shobanjo (London Broncos), Fedelia Omoghan (Ontario Ospreys), Catherine Akeje (Oran Park Gregory Hills Chargers), Adeola King (Ottawa Tigers RL), Vera Akhihiero, Success Iyoha, Abiola Obazuaye, Becky Okitikpe (R2 Finesse Academy), Shondell Akhabue (Wentworthville Magpies), Siobhan Sheerin (Unattached)

IRL Women's World Series 2025

Venue: Terry Fox Stadium, Brampton, Ontario

Tuesday, October 21
Semi-final: Ireland v Nigeria (kick off 3.30pm)
Semi-final: Canada v Fiji (6pm)

Sunday, October 26
Third-place play-off: Semi-final losers (1pm)
Final: Semi-final winners (3.30pm)

Tickets

Semi-finals (Tuesday, Oct 21): https://www.eventbrite.com/.../irl-world-series...

Final (Sunday, Oct 26): https://www.eventbrite.com/.../irl-world-series-finals...

21 October 2025
1 Lily Rogan
Full Back
Blessing Umude 1
2 Cliodhna O'Sullivan
Right Wing
Success Iyoha 2
3 Stephanie Carroll
Right Centre
Blessing Aladegelu 3
4 Mollie Young
Left Centre
Abiola Obazuaye 4
5 Aimee Clarke
Left Wing
Endurance Ukwuoma 5
6 Emma Kelly
Stand Off
Shondell Akhabue 6
7 Jade Walker
Scrum Half
Innocent Adaeze 7
8 Sarah Scambary
Prop
Adeola King 8
9 Niamh Griffin
Hooker
Becky Okitikpe 9
10 Aifric Ni Ghibne
Prop
Fedelia Omoghan 10
11 Tricia Doyle
Second Row
Rachel Iliya 11
12 Storm Cobain
Second Row
Vera Akhihiero-Pedro 12
13 Iona McCusker
Loose Forward
Faustina Akeje 13
14 Polly Roberts
Int 1
Chinaza Abbah 14
20 Jemma Gallagher
Int 2
Lauretta Bayere 15
16 Stacy Hanley
Int 3
Akinade Rukayat 16
17 Martha Dwyer
Int 4
Danyelle Shobanjo 17
18 Anna Potterton
Reserve 1

Nigeria are just 80 minutes away from securing a place at next year’s World Cup after shutting out Ireland 10-0 in the opening match of the IRL Women’s World Series at Terry Fox Stadium.

The Green Falcons led 4-0 at halftime after prop Fedelia Omoghan crashed over in the 14th minute and secondrower Rachel Iliya sealed the historic win when she picked up a loose ball and ran 85m to score 11 minutes before fulltime.

Nigerian coach Bolu Fagborun praised his side’s defensive resolve, particularly after being forced to play a player down while five-eighth Shondell Akhabue was in the sinbin either side of halftime.

“We set our goal to defend really well and one of the things that we spoke about was that if we don’t let any tries in, we will win the game. That came true. The girls were absolutely brilliant, their defensive effort was absolutely phenomal,” Fagborun said.

“We didn’t half do it hard, but these women have got a hell of a lot of execution today and the things that we worked on they just came through. Just being tough and wanting to win a game, and doing everything you can.

“It’s a hell of a moment for Nigerian rugby league and obviously Middle East Africa as well.”

Ireland’s best scoring opportunity came just before halftime when fullback Lily Rogan spun out of a tackle to cross the tryline but the Wests Tigers star was held up in-goal.

Irish coach Matt Kennerson admitted the pressure of a sudden death World Cup qualifier may have got to his players.

“You can’t win a game of footy when you complete less than 30 per cent of your sets in the first half,” he said.

“We weren’t the best team today, they were the better team. We dropped a ball over the line, we didn’t capitalise, things didn’t go our way and we didn’t handle it well. That’s rugby league.”

Nigeria will meet the winner of the Canada-Fiji match in the final of the inaugural World Series at Terry Fox Stadium on Sunday, October 21. At stake is the eighth and final women’s berth at IRL Rugby League World Cup 2026 in Australia and Papua New Guinea.   

“We will rest up, review the game, review the Fiji-Canada game and just prepare for a final,” Fagborun said.

“The reality is that we are 80 minutes away from a World Cup and we are going to do everything we can to put ourselves on the front foot for that.

“There are plenty of things to work on but we are super excited to be in the final and the bounce of a ball could put us through to the World Cup so we are going to start preparing for that.”  

Photo credit: Colin Watson

21 October 2025