The Ireland rugby league team has arrived in Belfast ahead of Saturdays’ mouth-watering clash with England Knights – with the classic fixture set to be the first rugby league international in the city for twelve years when it kicks off at Deramore Park at 6pm on October 20.
The Wolfhounds warmed up for their biggest match in years with a strong win against Scotland last Sunday in Edinburgh, 30-18, the first round of the three-way Alitalia European Cup – meaning a win over the Knights would seal the trophy for the boys in green, as well as their fist ever win over an England representative side.
Coach Mark Aston’s men are pumped up ahead of this weekend’s showdown, and landed in Belfast early this morning (Thursday, October 18) for a two-day preparation, including training at the venue and also a work-out at a gym owned by Andy Ward, the former Ulster and Ireland rugby union captain.
Mark Aston is also set to announce current Wolfhound’s skipper Liam Finn as captain for next year’s Rugby League World Cup during this afternoon’s gym visit, while Warrington Wolves’ Tyrone McCarthy will be named vice-captain for the biggest international tournament in the sport.
Andy, who also played rugby league for Ballynahinch and is a self-confessed fan of both codes of rugby, said: “I’m really looking forward to Saturday, the excitement is building. I can tell the guys are really up for it and I think it’s going to be a huge game.
“Ireland playing England is always special, and I’m delighted that the fixture will be in Belfast. The Knights are filled with big names, England is one of the world superpowers in rugby league and the Wolfhounds will be big underdogs, but that just means a good result will be even better.
“For the Ireland players that makes this game truly special – it’s a challenge, a responsibility, a test and a huge occasion. Our lads will no doubt want to rip into their opponents from the kick-off, throw everything into each and every tackle, and make it a night for themselves and the fans to savour.”
Encounters between these two countries are never less than full-blooded, while the match enjoys some added spice because both Ireland and the England side are using the match as crucial preparation for next years Rugby League World Cup in England – with a match also scheduled to be played in Ireland, a crunch pool game between Ireland and Australia, the world’s greatest team.
The Ireland squad is a genuine mix of local players and men who turn out for big name professional teams in England. Training and taking the field alongside players from Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and Leeds Rhinos are men who play their club games for teams like Antrim Eels, Athboy Longhorns and the Dublin City Exiles. A total of seven domestic players feature in the 30-man squad, which also had a total of 13 uncapped players before the Scotland game.
The England Knights squad features a host of star names taken from Super League, including Liam Farrell of Wigan Warriors, Bradford Bulls’ Tom Burgess – who will spend next year in the glamorous NRL, Australia’s top rugby league competition, playing for Russell Crowe’s South Sydney Rabbitohs team – and Warrington Wolves’ Richie Myler and Stefan Ratchford.
Coach Mark Aston said: “We are going to go out there and play as well as we can, leave nothing behind. The England Knights team will be very strong, we know that, but we are really looking forward to the challenge.
“I have real faith in the players. After the Scotland game, where they played really well and deserved their good win, I could see the passion and the pride they take in representing their country, and also the focus and determination they have to make themselves the best rugby league players and team that they can.
“As a coach that’s the main thing, it’s the most important thing, and it’s what makes working with these guys a pleasure. We have a number of players with different levels of experience, but to see them come together as a group and want to improve together is what it’s all about.”
The game against England, which will be the first international rugby league match in Belfast since the 2000 World Cup when Ireland beat Samoa, kicks off at 6pm on Saturday, October 20 at Deramore Park (NB: the game has been moved from an original Friday night, 7.30pm kick off to this new time the following day).
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.
3. Full squad for the Alitalia European Cup:
Matthew Hadden* (Antrim Eels), Simon Deevy* (Athboy Longhorns), Wayne Kerr (Country Cowboys), Elliot Cosgrove (Dewsbury Rams), Tom McKeown* , Joe Taylor (Dublin City Exiles), Liam Finn (captain, Featherstone Rovers), Luke Ambler, Callum Casey, Paul Handforth, Sean Hesketh (Halifax RLFC), Colton Roache* (Leeds Rhinos), Tommy Goulden, Stuart Littler, Gregg McNally (Leigh Centurions), Joshua Toole* (Mounties), Joe Mulhern* (Oldham Roughyeads), Tim Bergin, Pat Smith (Sheffield Eagles), Brendan Guilfoyle, Aaron McCloskey (Treaty City Titans), Kurt Haggerty, Joel Hinchcliffe*, Sam Wellens* (Unattached), Danny Bridge*, James Mendeika*, Tyrone McCarthy (Warrington Wolves), Matthew Haggerty*, Carl Sice* (Whitehaven RLFC), John O’Donnell* (Wigan Warriors)
*Denotes previously uncapped player
