State of the Nation: Rugby League Targets Ghana

Philip Kingsland - 13/12/2011

The game of Rugby League is set to soon kick off in the Republic of Ghana. Often described as one of the World's fastest growing economies, Ghana may be hosting their first 13 a-side training clinics within the early months of 2012.

The new developments were triggered initially by the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF) and UK Sports International, the latter by way OF existing leadership in sport programmes that run within the universities in Ghana. Through such initiatives, the RLEF was invited to become involved who have a commitment to develop Rugby League in Africa to increase participation in the Commonwealth.

The initial aims are that the game may be able to be started within the university system then expanded outwardly to other areas within the country and indeed the West African Theatre. Although the RLEF has admitted that a firm ground presence is yet to be established, the enthusiasm from the locals involved in the project has been receptive and optimistic, and the approach, involving a coalition of established partners has been described as unique.

Some of the members of this new coalition, including two chiefs from Accra University will meet next Monday (19/12/2011) in the London offices of UK Sports International to discuss the initiation of the next phase.

Danny Kazandjian, General Manager of the RLEF, is another one of the participants in this new coalition and was able to shed some light on the current situation. "We see (Ghana) as an important link in the chain that encompasses our southern and northern African Projects. UK Sports International, through their existing programmes, will select some candidates as future leaders of the sport in Ghana, then in 2012 we will give them Rugby League specific training". The hope is that such training will see these selected leaders become future coaches, match officials and administrators.

What makes this project particularly exciting, is the fact that until now very little of the Sport has been played in Ghana. Starting a league from scratch will prove to be an involving task; one that as Danny further explains is "an extremely interesting initiative as it will require sports enthusiasts to be educated in every facet of the sport. Currently, there are no known cells of Rugby League enthusiasts in Accra" Although UK Sports Officials have informed me that, during their initial scouting mission, one willing volunteer turned up brandishing an old French Rugby League Law Book. So the game is not unknown.

Be this is as it may, the humble beginnings of this new development beckons a likeness with other nations who were also initially unfamiliar to the 13 a-side sport. Countries such as Lebanon and Jamaica have only been on the sport's international radar for less than a decade yet both were recently contesting for positions in the 2013 Rugby League World Cup to be staged in Europe.

As athletes from Ghana have been participating in the Commonwealth Games since 1954, the presence of Rugby League in this nation will surely help justify the code's recent recognition as a Category 3 Sport by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

It is of the opinion of Rugby League Planet.com that the work that is soon to commence in the Republic of Ghana will only stand to benefit the local people and the game of Rugby League.