The new Nigerian rugby league team names its first ever training squad today – and promising Hull Kingston Rovers winger Elliot Wallis is a proud inclusion.
Wallis – who made his first team debut against Wigan last year aged just 18 – qualifies for the African trailblazers through his grandfather Oloruntoba Alaiyemola, or Joseph as he was known, who was born in Lagos.
Fellow Super League players Tuoyo Egodo, Muizz Mustapha and Sadiq Adebiyi have also been included in the 60-man squad, alongside rising NRL star Jayden Okunbor, a cluster of Championship players and 40 that are playing in the fledgling Nigerian competition.
The team will be coached by former London Bronco Joe Mbu and managed by another ex professional in Ade Adebisi, and Wallis is relishing the opportunity to help grow the sport to new territories and honour his grandfather, who passed away last year.
Wallis – whose own African name is Olafemi – said: “He was was my last link to Africa, in terms of getting involved with something different.
“I have some aunties and cousins that I stay in touch with a bit and there’s a lot of stuff happening politically in Nigeria. But when it comes to sport, that’s something that brings the country together and hopefully rugby league can do that.
“When I found out Nigeria was starting a team I got in touch with them straight away. When I tell people about it they always mention the Jamaican bobsleigh team, but I thought it’d be something that would be really good to be a part of.
“It’s just starting off but there are some really good athletes that can do well in rugby league.”
Wallis will not be involved in the upcoming Middle East-Africa Rugby League Championship as he looks to get a full pre-season under his belt after an injury-hit 2019. But he has targeted future competitions, including the possibility of the Emerging Nations World Championship in 2021, having missed out on representing England Academy last year with an ankle issue.
