Aussie McKenna gets Ireland call
Australia Test player Chris McKenna is set to play for Ireland in the European Nations Cup at the end of the season.
The 28-year-old Leeds centre, who was a member of the Australia team that thrashed Great Britain 64-10 in Sydney 12 months ago, qualifies for Ireland through his Belfast-born grandfather.
He is one of 21 Super League players called up by new coach Daryl Powell, the Leeds Rhinos boss, although doubts surround the fitness of Hull second-rower Shayne McMenemy, who was yesterday ruled out for the season with a dislocated elbow.
Widnes winger Paul Devlin is poised to make his rugby league international debut after previously playing for Ireland’s Under-21 team at rugby union.
The 31-strong squad, captained by Wigan prop Terry O’Connor, also includes three players from the domestic league in Dave Hancock, of Dublin’s East Coast Eagles, and Cork Bulls duo Mark O'Connell and Simon Buckley.
Ireland will play France and Scotland in their pool matches of the European Nations Cup, with England A, Wales and Russia meeting in the other group.
Ireland squad: L Finnerty (Halifax), S Prescott (Hull), F Cummins (Leeds), A Stewart (St Helens), C De Chenu (Sheffield), C Halpenny (Wakefield), R Smyth (Warrington), C McKenna (Leeds), M Eagar (Castleford), M Golden (Widnes), T Martyn (Leigh), G Clinch (Salford), C Bridge (Bradford), M Slicker (Huddersfield), T O’Connor (Wigan, capt), P Southern (Rochdale), T Gallagher (Leigh), C Greenhill (Hull), S McMenemy (Hull), T Jonkers (St Helens), M Cassidy (Wigan), D Bradbury (Leigh), C Joynt (St Helens), R Marshall (London), L Doran (Oldham), J Lawless (Halifax), P Handforth (Wakefield), P Devlin (Widnes), D Hancock (East Coast Eagles, Dublin), M O’Connell (Cork Bulls), S Buckley (Cork Bulls).
