Andy Ward announces Ireland – England
International Rugby League comes to Belfast for the first time in 12 years
Ireland – England is always one of the biggest occasions in international sport, and the old rivals are set to come to Belfast next month when the Irish Wolfhounds rugby league team clash with star-studded England Knights at Deramore Park, kicking off at 7.30pm on October 19.
Irish rugby legend Andy Ward joined a number of players from local clubs as well as management from Rugby League Ireland to officially announce the upcoming game at the venue this morning.
The Ireland squad for the upcoming game against England Knights, featuring some of the biggest stars in Super League, will be announced by coach Mark Aston on Monday – and Andy revealed that he is already really excited ahead of the full-blooded encounter.
Andy said: “This is going to be great, I’m really looking forward to it. Ireland – England is always special and personally I’m delighted that such a huge game is going to be in Belfast.
“I played rugby league with the Ballynahinch Rabbitohs after I retired from the professional union game – coming from New Zealand it’s something I’ve always had an interest in because it’s a big sport there in its own right.
“I’ve seen the club game here grow and grow an amazing amount over the last few years and I hope it will push on and really establish itself, especially now there are clubs in Ulster, Munster and Leinster playing in well-organised leagues.
“Rugby union and both the GAA sports are obviously incredibly popular in Ireland north and south at the minute – and if people love those, they are going to love rugby league. It seems the people here love rough games with skill and that’s why I think rugby league can and will be really popular as well.”
This is the first time the Ireland team has played an international match in Belfast since the opening match of the 2000 Rugby League World Cup when the team beat Samoa 30-16 at Windsor Park.
England Knights is the ‘A’ side for the full English national team and, with the match scheduled for two weeks after the Super League Grand Final – and the game part of both sides’ preparation for the Rugby League World Cup next year – an incredibly strong side is expected, packed with big names.
Gordon Matthews, the General Manager of Rugby League Ireland, said: “In 2009 we got a bit of funding help from the RFL in England and that has allowed us to grow the sport. There were six clubs on the whole island back then, now there are 21 and there’s a proper structure.
“The team selected against England Knights will be a mixture of some stars from the Super League, some other pro and semi-pro players from the Championship in England, and the best players from the domestic leagues here.
“The match will be a great spectacle itself, with some world class rugby league players on show here in Belfast, and it is also part of our build up to the World Cup next year. We have this three-way tournament with Scotland and England Knights, and then we have a series of games next June before the World Cup in November – where Ireland will play Australia, the biggest game in our history, at Thomond Park in Limerick.
“The Cup itself is based in England but it’s fantastic to have a game on this island, particularly that game. The details for the June matches are yet to be finalised – but hopefully we can bring another game to Belfast as part of our efforts to continue growing the sport.
“What’s really pleasing is that we’re now in the position where, if you live in Northern Ireland or in the Republic of Ireland and you want to try rugby league, there will be a club near you where you can join in, and if you’ve got talent you can progress onto the interprovincial scene – there’s an annual tournament between the provinces, Ulster are the current champions – and then on to play for your country if you’re good enough.”
Domestic club games in Ireland are played over the summer, meaning many people are taking the opportunity to play rugby all year round, switching from union to league and vice versa. In recent years the number of sides has almost doubled as the appetite for the sport grows.
The match is part of both England and Ireland’s preparation for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales – with the Irish side also playing against Scotland in Edinburgh on October 14 as part of the three-team 2012 Alitalia European Cup.
Tickets for the match at Deramore Park are priced at £10 for adults, £5 for schoolchildren and students, while families of five (two adults and three children) can all get in for £20. Tickets are available through Ticketmaster, all usual Ticketmaster outlets and will be sold on the door at the game. Rugby League Ireland is looking forward to a good crowd cheering the home team on to what will hopefully be a memorable victory.
Pics: Attached is an image of Ireland internationals posing earlier this year outside the Titanic Building in Belfast. PICTURES OF ANDY WARD SPEAKING AT DERAMORE PARK THIS AFTERNOON ARE AVAILABLE THROUGH PRESS EYE. The pictures also feature a Wolfhound, as well as players from local clubs.
