Trinity and Rhinos could face off in rugby league clash – in Nigeria!
Wakefield join Leeds in adopting a club in the African country's fledgling competition
LEEDS and Wakefield may face each other in Nigeria – or rather the Rhinos may come up against Trinity.
For both Super League sides have got on board with clubs in the African country.
And they could meet in the Grand Final.
Leeds had already got a side there in the form of the Lagos Rhinos, now Wakefield have made a similar move.
For the next new entrant into the Nigerian domestic competition will be Eko Trinity.
This partnership will also see Trinity work alongside the community from the nation in Wakefield.
They also plan to send ambassadors to spend a fortnight in rural Nigeria holding training camps to introduce the population to rugby league.
SunSport detailed the work former London Broncos player Ade Adebisi put in to establish the 13-a-side game in the country, working there for two years without any money.
And Wakefield general manager Craig Shepherd believes the sport can take off.
He said: “There is a real opportunity to take Rugby League to an African nation that prioritises sport and given the athleticism of rugby league, I’m optimistic that the community in Lagos will get behind Eko Trinity and turn out in numbers.
“Our Young Trustees will work hard on Project Eko to raise the aspirations of young people in Lagos and the local Nigerian Community here in Wakefield and surrounding regions.
“With the help of Ade and his team, we will deliver coaching clinics and attend public appearances at schools and community organisations where we can introduce rugby league into the hearts and minds of the Lagos communities.”
Adebisi, who has also fought the disease sickle cell anaemia all his life and is in discussions to link up with a major Nigerian company to help tackle the problem, is in no doubt where the ambitions lie - the 2025 World Cup.
He said: “I'm really excited that Wakefield has decided to come on board with us.
“When this project started, we set ourselves a very ambitious goal which is to qualify for the World Cup 2025 and I think we are on the way to hopefully achieving this.”
