The Ghana Rugby Football Union (GRFU) has called on university students to look beyond the pitch and embrace professional roles in sports administration to drive the nation’s athletic future.
Speaking at the 2026 Level 100 Orientation Programme at the University of Ghana, GRFU President Rafatu Inusah told aspiring professionals that the industry’s growth depends on a new wave of “well-trained, passionate, and committed” leaders.
The event, organised by the Department of Physical Education and Sports (PESS) in Legon, Accra, serves as a critical bridge between academic theory and the practical demands of the Ghanaian sports ecosystem.
Inusah, who transitioned from a competitive athlete to a high-level administrator, used her keynote address to dismantle the myth that sports careers are limited to active play.
She urged students to view themselves as emerging specialists in fields such as sports development, coaching, officiating, and event management.
She also highlighted the growing importance of safeguarding, anti-doping education, and corporate governance within the sector.
The orientation highlighted a strategic partnership between RightSet Ghana and the GRFU.
This collaboration offers students structured pathways to serve as sports development officers, providing them with direct mentorship from seasoned federation officials, professional training to gain industry-recognised skills, and real-world exposure by operating within the federation’s daily framework.
The union’s leadership turned out in force to support the initiative.
Alongside the President were Samira Mensah, General Manager of the GRFU, and Rachel Ankomah, Director of Corporate Communications, reinforcing the federation’s focus on youth empowerment and institutional engagement.
By aligning with academic institutions like the University of Ghana, the GRFU aims to solve a long-standing challenge in sports: the gap between classroom learning and field experience.
As rugby union continues to grow in popularity across the country, the union is betting on these students to not only understand the rules of the game but to master the business and logistics behind the whistle.
