Sports development professional, coach and administrator Rachel Ankomah has announced her decision to bring her coaching and development journey in both Rugby League and Rugby Union to an end, closing a significant chapter of her involvement in Ghanaian sport.
Ankomah’s journey across the two codes has involved grassroots development, coaching, player recruitment, competition organisation, administration and efforts to create opportunities for athletes, particularly women and girls.
In Rugby League, she played an important role in the development of the women’s game in Ghana, serving as the country’s first Women’s Rugby League Coordinator. Her involvement also extended to international engagements, including serving as an on-ground manager for Ghana during the 2022 Cameroon Rugby League engagement.
In Rugby Union, her contributions included coaching, player development and administrative responsibilities, alongside efforts to introduce more young people to the sport and strengthen participation at the grassroots level.
Over the years, her involvement in both codes required considerable personal investment, time, energy and resources. Beyond the technical aspects of coaching, she worked to create pathways for athletes, support teams and contribute to the wider growth of the games.
However, the journey also came with challenges. In announcing her decision in October 2026, Ankomah reflected on the difficulties of working within structures where the necessary systems and support mechanisms were not adequately established to sustain the development efforts she had invested in.
Her decision marks the conclusion of her active coaching and development involvement in Rugby League and Rugby Union.
However, she has made it clear that stepping away from the two codes does not mean stepping away from sports development.
With her continued involvement across other sporting disciplines, administration, athlete development and community initiatives, Ankomah remains committed to contributing to the growth of sport in Ghana.
For her, the decision represents the closing of two important chapters, while making room for new opportunities and directions in sports development.
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