O’Sullivan backs improving Islanders to boost World Cup

IRELAND coach Eddie O’Sullivan believes the Pacific Islands hold the key to establishing a more competitive World Cup.

Only four nations have won the sport’s showpiece event and the victors at next year’s tournament are almost certainly to be one of the traditional heavyweights.

Ireland and Argentina appear to have the greatest chance of challenging the accepted world order but have been drawn in the same pool alongside hosts France and it would be a huge achievement for either side to reach the final.