Abi Ekoku

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Abi Ekoku
Personal information
Full nameAbagi Bienose Ekoku
Born (1966-04-13) 13 April 1966
Playing information
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1993–95 London Crusaders 27 15 0 0 60
1995–96 Halifax Blue Sox 24+5 9 0 0 36
1997–98 Bradford Bulls 24+4 7 0 0 28
Total 84 31 0 0 124
Source: [1][2]
Sports career
SportAthletics
EventDiscus throw
ClubBelgrave Harriers
Medal record
Discus
Representing  England
UK Championships[3]
3rd 1989
2nd 1990
1st 1992
British National Championships (AAA)[4]
2nd 1989
1st 1990
2nd 1992

Abagi Bienose Ekoku (born 13 April 1966) is the interim CEO of the RFL, a former professional rugby league footballer and a former track and field athlete in both discus and shot put.[5]

He is due to leave his role at the Rugby Football League at the end of April 2026 in order to take on the role as Chief Executive of St Helens in the Super League.[6]

Sporting career

Athletics

Ekoku represented Great Britain at the European Athletics Championships and was National Champion in the Discus in 1990 and 1992[3][7][8]. He represented England in Discus and Shot Put at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand.[9][10][11][12]

Rugby league

Ekoku switched to professional rugby league football for the 1993-4 season and played for six seasons on the wing. He started his rugby league career with the London Crusaders, playing on a part-time basis whilst also lecturing in further education. He was signed by Halifax in July 1995, and played in the inaugural Super League season with the club. He joined the Bradford Bulls in 1997, helping the club win the Super League that year, and also played in the 1997 Challenge Cup against St. Helens at Wembley.

Ekoku announced his retirement from playing in 1998 and enjoyed a successful spell as chairman of the Rugby League Players' Association. He left the post in 1999 and was Managing Director at the Keighley Cougars before being appointed by the Bradford Bulls as Chief Executive Officer. Ekoku oversaw Bradford from 2000 to 2003 during a golden period in the Club’s history, when they won two Super League titles, two Challenge Cup finals and the World Club Championship.[13]

Ekoku returned to the game in 2005 as an anti-doping tutor before being appointed team manager for Great Britain in 2006. He stepped down from this role at the end of 2007 after 10 international fixtures, including the 2006 Gillette Tri-Nations Series and the successful home series against New Zealand in 2007.[14]

After a period as a Business Development & Strategy Consultant in property development and leisure investment, Ekoku once again returned to the sport in March 2025, joining the club-led Strategic Review Panel at the RFL.[15] In October 2025 he was appointed as interim CEO of the RFL, during which time he oversaw the resolution of the administrations of Salford Red Devils and Halifax Panthers, guiding both clubs to new ownership and a return to participation in the Championship.[16][17] In April 2026, Ekoku was appointed as CEO of St Helens R.F.C.[18]

Personal life

Ekoku's brother Efan is a former professional footballer who represented the Nigeria national football team, and as of 2011 is a football pundit with ESPN.

References

  1. From Fulham to Wembley, 20 years of rugby league in London, edited by Dave Farrar and Peter Lush, published by London League Publications Ltd, page 264
  2. rugbyleagueproject.org
  3. GBR athletics UK results
  4. GBR Athletics - AAA CHAMPIONSHIPS (MEN)
  5. Abi Ekoku to leave role as interim RFL CEO
  6. Maguire, Tom (9 April 2026). "St.Helens R.F.C. appoint Abi Ekoku as CEO". St.Helens R.F.C. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  7. "AAA, WAAA and National Championships Medallists". National Union of Track Statisticians. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  8. "AAA Championships (men)". GBR Athletics. Retrieved 27 June 2025.
  9. "1990 Athletes". Team England.
  10. "England team in 1990". Commonwealth Games Federation. Archived from the original on 4 April 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  11. "Athletes and results". Commonwealth Games Federation.
  12. 1990 Commonwealth Results at sporting heroes
  13. Maguire, Tom (9 April 2026). "St.Helens R.F.C. appoint Abi Ekoku as CEO". St.Helens R.F.C. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  14. "Ekoku ends tenure as GB manager". BBC Sport. 20 November 2007. Retrieved 28 January 2015.
  15. "RFL Board and Strategic Review Committee". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  16. Bower, Aaron (22 December 2025). "Salford Red Devils' new owners confirmed as winning bid revealed". Love Rugby League. Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  17. "Three consortia in line for Halifax Panthers revival bid – Total Rugby League". Retrieved 9 April 2026.
  18. "Abi Ekoku: St Helens appoint interim RFL CEO as chief executive". BBC Sport. 9 April 2026. Retrieved 9 April 2026.