Oxford University’s rugby league side has announced that they will make a tour to Ghana in July 2022. They will be the first UK side to visit Accra since the GB Student Pioneers travelled to West Africa in 2014.

Now in their 45th year, the dark blues first and second teams are currently enjoying a successful season in the British University & Colleges Sport leagues.

OURLFC president, Joseph Grosvenor, commented: “We saw the traction that rugby league was receiving in Ghana and decided to reach out to former Oxford and Ghana back rower Abeku Nelson to see if we could link in with it. Our aim is to take a travelling party of 25 players and staff, assist with some community work and then have a two-game series against a Presidents XIII and the national side.”

RLFG general manager Jafaru Mustapha, added: “Next year marks a decade since the arrival of rugby league in our nation, and the one area we are now ready to further develop is Higher Education. It is fitting that we will welcome Oxford to the University of Ghana where they will be based. Our hope is to build a solid foundation for us to take forward and one day tour England on the return leg.”

Abeku Nelson said: “I have an affinity to both groups and know the importance of this tour to each. I hope, based on the back it, that more clubs see the growth of the game in Africa and look to head there for competition. I’ll be with Oxford off the field, but 100% with Ghana on it.”