Liverpool cult hero's nephew now making a name for himself in rugby league - The Mirror

Rigobert Song played in the Premier League for Liverpool and West Ham, but his nephew Junior Nsemba is making his own impression for Wigan Warriors in Super League

His famous uncle Rigobert Song is a Cameroon football hero but Wigan’s Junior Nsemba is making his own mark in rugby league.

Wigan is a long way from the central Africa country and the teenage powerhouse forward is born and bred in the town. But both his parents hail from Cameroon and Nsemba, set to feature in Sunday’s Challenge Cup quarter-final at Castleford, is certainly proud of his heritage.

He’s hoping ex-Liverpool and West Ham star Song, who starred in four World Cups and captained Cameroon, could soon see him in action with the Super League champions.

Nsemba, 19, said: “Rigobert is my uncle but I’ve not seen him for a while. He’s married to my dad’s sister and he is close with my dad.

“The last time I saw him was when I was about 13 and I went to France. It’d be good to see him soon. He’s meant to be coming down this summer and hopefully he’ll get to come watch Wigan.”

While Song, 47, has long since retired and also recently quit as Cameroon head coach, his nephew is just starting out in rugby league.

Towering second-row Nsemba scored his first Super League try in Thursday’s 40-12 win at Leigh when he claimed man-of-the-match with his all-action display off the bench. He made his Wigan debut against Hull KR in August 2022 but really kicked on last year with 15 appearances, earning a bumper new four-year deal.

Nsemba has needed to bide his time this time around but got a chance against London and was an unused substitute in the Good Friday loss at St Helens. Nsemba is loving life with the World Club champions and admitted: “It just shows that hard work does pay off.

“I was injured in the off-season. I had an operation on my knee. But coming back at London, playing in that Leigh game as well, it’s just amazing.

“Obviously, with the derby at Saints, with the atmosphere of it all and the way the game was going, it would have been tough for Matt [Peet] to try and put me on.

“There were cards as well [Tyler Dupree sin-binned and Liam Byrne sent-off]. But I wasn’t stressed about it. I just wanted to work harder in training ready for Leigh.”

After being inspired by the likes of Song, Nsemba wants to make Cameroon proud - although it’s more likely he’ll represent England if his current trajectory continues.

He insisted: “I’m not too sure what my future is looking like…England/Cameroon? But once it comes to that I have a decision to be made. I just need to chat to my mum and dad and see what they say!”