Irish defence coach Ford backs rugby league plan

IRELAND’S rugby union defensive coach Mike Ford has backed plans to establish a new rugby league competition here.

Plans are afoot to launch an 18-team competition next summer, with the aim of replicating the success of the amateur 52-team Rugby League Conference operating in England and Wales.

Ford, who enjoyed a successful rugby league career with Wigan, Castleford and Great Britain, is firmly behind the proposals and believes that Ireland’s rugby union players can gain a great deal from sampling the 13-man code.