Ireland Rugby League team begins recruitment drive

Ireland have started a recruitment drive to bolster their squad for their assault on the Rugby League World Cup later this year.

Coach Andy Kelly has called for players with Irish ancestry to come forward in the hope of attracting talent of the calibre of Australian-born trio Luke Ricketson, Kevin Campion and Danny Williams, who all helped Ireland reach the last eight in 2000.

According to the rules, Ireland must include at least six players from their domestic competition but Kelly is keen to add experience as he prepares for tough pool matches against Tonga and Samoa.

“Having to name a 40-man training squad gives me the option to look at players who have not participated in the qualifying games and to consider if they can add strength to the Ireland team,” he said.

“I already have a good core of players and, with an ’open door’ policy, I think players who have missed out through no fault of their own can now come forward and potentially have the chance to play in the World Cup finals for Ireland.”

Ireland open their campaign against Tonga on October 27 and meet Samoa on November 5. Both matches will be at Parramatta Stadium and they will set up base in Sydney’s western capital.

A delegation, led by Rugby League Ireland executive director Niall Cantrell, is currently in Sydney meeting with World Cup organisers and local business and community leaders as part of a fact-finding mission.

“We have been very busy and very proactive in ensuring we cover all areas of preparation, be it travel, accommodation, training, diet and game prep,” said Cantrell.

“We have covered them all with the designated coach and management staff and will now put the plans in place.

“We want to ensure that, when the team arrives in October, we will have an established network of support that will aid the team during the competition.”