Nigeria’s men’s national rugby league team endured a tough reintroduction to international competition, falling 70–6 to Cumbria in a one-sided contest at the Northern Competition Stadium in Barrow.

The match, witnessed by 1,475 spectators, marked Nigeria’s first competitive outing in two years, but it proved a baptism of fire against a well-drilled Cumbria side that dominated possession, territory, and physical exchanges from start to finish.

Cumbria made their intentions clear early, breaking through in the fifth minute when Luke Broadbent finished off a slick move set up by Jake Carter. That early strike opened the floodgates, with Ellis Archer and Ellison Holgate adding further tries to give the hosts a 16–0 lead inside 11 minutes.

Shane Toal then sprinted 30 metres to score beside the posts before Archer crossed again to make it 26–0 midway through the first half. Despite a spirited defensive spell from Nigeria, Cumbria’s relentless pace and precision proved too much, as Curtis Teare and Luke Creswell piled on two more tries to give the home side a commanding 38–0 cushion at half-time.

The second half brought little relief for the Nigerians, as Carter, Teare, and Connor Holliday all crossed the line in another dominant spell. Brad Singleton later set up Creswell for two more scores, with the latter completing his hat-trick to cap off a ruthless performance that took Cumbria’s tally to 70 points.

Nigeria, though outplayed, refused to fold. Their resilience paid off in the 70th minute when Doncaster’s Muzzi Mustapha powered over for a consolation try, converted by Rio Corkill.

Played in freezing conditions on a heavy pitch, the game highlighted the developmental gap between Nigeria’s emerging rugby league setup and the seasoned systems in England’s northern counties.

Despite the heavy defeat, Nigeria’s coaching staff remain upbeat, describing the fixture as a vital learning experience and a necessary step in rebuilding international competitiveness after a long absence from the global stage.