Scotland Clubs v Ireland Clubs

[Damien]

Thought I may as well start a thread for the upcoming 2 test series between Scotland and Ireland Club Teams. Much prefer this than the heritage based affairs we usually get at all levels.

First game on this Saturday 22nd August at 2pm at Edinburgh Academicals and the 2nd game is in Dublin on Saturday 5th September at Westmanstown Garda Grounds at 2pm.

Hopefully they will be Livestreamed on YouTube.

[Damien]

Scotland Squad

[Damien]

Ireland Squad

[OriginalMrC]

This will be a great experience for all involved. I expect Ireland to win comfortably but who knows  

[Waynebennettswinger]

23 hours ago, Damien said:

Scotland Squad

Hope that Sky get on to this just so Stuart Pyke can have a go at that last fellas name! 

In all seriousness thanks for posting.

[groundhopper]

Would love to do this game

Looking at possible ways but staying in Edinburgh not affordable.

So I have a Scotland international, when they cant find two teams for the grand final and 5 hours each way on Cross Country trains.

Difficult to see how anything could go wrong.

 

[Damien]

4 minutes ago, groundhopper said:

Would love to do this game

Looking at possible ways but staying in Edinburgh not affordable.

So I have a Scotland international, when they cant find two teams for the grand final and 5 hours each way on Cross Country trains.

Difficult to see how anything could go wrong.

 

Hope you make it. I dont know about the Scotland team, and dont know much about their domestic comp, but Ive see a fair bit of the Ireland competition and there are some very decent players in that team.

[Bull Mania]

This is brilliant and a way to grow the game in those countries.

[Damien]

1 hour ago, Bull Mania said:

This is brilliant and a way to grow the game in those countries.

It absolutely is, far better than the heritage affairs and gives domestic players something to aim for.

Edited August 20 by Damien

[The Future is League]

4 hours ago, Damien said:

It absolutely is, far better than the heritage affairs and gives domestic players something to aim for.

100%. I see no benefit for Scotland or Ireland playing games against other international teams with a majority of both teams players are English.

[Bongo1]

13 hours ago, The Future is League said:

100%. I see no benefit for Scotland or Ireland playing games against other international teams with a majority of both teams players are English.

it would be good if players from these squads could be promoted to these "heritage squads" , one or two could put themselves in the shop window for possible super league contracts, that would probably make too much sense though 

[Damien]

Just now, Bongo1 said:

it would be good if players from these squads could be promoted to these "heritage squads" , one or two could put themselves in the shop window for possible super league contracts, that would probably make too much sense though 

It's a wider issue, the problem is the heritage squads at u16s, u18s and student level. It's not just adult. It's endemic at all levels and achieves nothing.

[Bongo1]

55 minutes ago, Damien said:

It's a wider issue, the problem is the heritage squads at u16s, u18s and student level. It's not just adult. It's endemic at all levels and achieves nothing.

ah of course, i forgot about the youth trials in lancashire etc...

[The Future is League]

2 hours ago, Damien said:

It's a wider issue, the problem is the heritage squads at u16s, u18s and student level. It's not just adult. It's endemic at all levels and achieves nothing.

Yes it does nothing to grow the game at local junior level in them countries

[Damien]

Ireland team:

 

[Transpennine Ram]

1 hour ago, Damien said:

Ireland team:

 

Is there going to be a livestream? Was a bit short notice for a run to Edinburgh?

[Damien]

Ireland win 38-30. A good game with plenty of effort on both sides.

[henage]

6 hours ago, Damien said:

Ireland win 38-30. A good game with plenty of effort on both sides.

Score says a good game 

 

[groundhopper]

Just back from this with trains on tine.

the scoring went 0 6 then 6 6 and 18 8 at half time then 18 38  witth Scotland scoring two late converted tries for 30 38.

Game not a high standard but no lack of effort an it should be realised the majority of the players have played no more than 4 or 5 games and possibly only one or two. No criticism there.

However the Scottish RL did not appear to exist. I'm not talking of coaches etc but off field.

I could not initially find the entrance and walked in through a side gate. No gate was taken and not expecting a prog or merchandise, I was not disappointed. However the match was preceded by the national anthems, sung with enthusiasm by the teams but with no music of any sort. There was no team sheet or tannoy.

I can see why Edinburgh Eagles may feel they have limited if any support

Crowd was 50 to 60 with half from Ireland In fairness Edinburgh is in the middle if festival season so many other attractions. I am noy sure I have seen a city centre so full. crossing a road was difficult and I have never seen so many divers just beeping horns so agressively.

Match played at Edinburgh Accies ground with a possibly condemned stand in the wrong place and a smaller replacement one with players standing in front making viewing difficult

Return fixture in 2 weeks at the Garda Ground some way out of Dublin 

         

[corkonian77]

39 minutes ago, groundhopper said:

Just back from this with trains on tine.

the scoring went 0 6 then 6 6 and 18 8 at half time then 18 38  witth Scotland scoring two late converted tries for 30 38.

Game not a high standard but no lack of effort an it should be realised the majority of the players have played no more than 4 or 5 games and possibly only one or two. No criticism there.

However the Scottish RL did not appear to exist. I'm not talking of coaches etc but off field.

I could not initially find the entrance and walked in through a side gate. No gate was taken and not expecting a prog or merchandise, I was not disappointed. However the match was preceded by the national anthems, sung with enthusiasm by the teams but with no music of any sort. There was no team sheet or tannoy.

I can see why Edinburgh Eagles may feel they have limited if any support

Crowd was 50 to 60 with half from Ireland In fairness Edinburgh is in the middle if festival season so many other attractions. I am noy sure I have seen a city centre so full. crossing a road was difficult and I have never seen so many divers just beeping horns so agressively.

Match played at Edinburgh Accies ground with a possibly condemned stand in the wrong place and a smaller replacement one with players standing in front making viewing difficult

Return fixture in 2 weeks at the Garda Ground some way out of Dublin 

         

The match was not for spectators but for the players. 

Most of the players  don't play  in front of any crowd greater  when they play union.

[Damien]

6 hours ago, groundhopper said:

Just back from this with trains on tine.

the scoring went 0 6 then 6 6 and 18 8 at half time then 18 38  witth Scotland scoring two late converted tries for 30 38.

Game not a high standard but no lack of effort an it should be realised the majority of the players have played no more than 4 or 5 games and possibly only one or two. No criticism there.

However the Scottish RL did not appear to exist. I'm not talking of coaches etc but off field.

I could not initially find the entrance and walked in through a side gate. No gate was taken and not expecting a prog or merchandise, I was not disappointed. However the match was preceded by the national anthems, sung with enthusiasm by the teams but with no music of any sort. There was no team sheet or tannoy.

I can see why Edinburgh Eagles may feel they have limited if any support

Crowd was 50 to 60 with half from Ireland In fairness Edinburgh is in the middle if festival season so many other attractions. I am noy sure I have seen a city centre so full. crossing a road was difficult and I have never seen so many divers just beeping horns so agressively.

Match played at Edinburgh Accies ground with a possibly condemned stand in the wrong place and a smaller replacement one with players standing in front making viewing difficult

Return fixture in 2 weeks at the Garda Ground some way out of Dublin 

I know Ireland had barely trained and many lads had barely slept, if at all, with them all flying from Dublin at 6.30am that morning. It was a pretty good effort all things considered and they, and Scotland will be all the better for that game. I think they looked younger and fitter and have a few more gears to come as they get to know each other and click.

Some players with loads of potential on display. Eoin Ratchford the Ireland number 7 got Irelands man of the match by the coaches and is only 19, if he had been growing up in England I've no doubt he'd have been on a SL clubs academy books by this point. Oisin Carroll again only 19 was given similar by the Scotland coaches and played well too. While this game is a step up the question is whats the next path for these lads because they are good players who would be in the system somewhere growing up in England.

Scotland had some handy players too although looked older across the board with perhaps a bit more RL experience from some. The full back and stand off look handy and their offloading game was very dangerous and had Ireland struggling at times.

I do agree on Scotland RL as the organiser, it seemed next to non existent. I know Ireland RL is threadbare but even for an away match Ireland had way more fans, coaches etc there. I think Ireland were videoing it too which i expect it will go on YouTube at some point, nothing from Scotland as far as I could see.

Again all that said matches like this can only help both organisations. Well done to both to get them on, with very limited resources its tough to do. A throughly enjoyable match to watch.

Edited August 23 by Damien

[corkonian77]

16 hours ago, Damien said:

I know Ireland had barely trained and many lads had barely slept, if at all, with them all flying from Dublin at 6.30am that morning. It was a pretty good effort all things considered and they, and Scotland will be all the better for that game. I think they looked younger and fitter and have a few more gears to come as they get to know each other and click.

Some players with loads of potential on display. Eoin Ratchford the Ireland number 7 got Irelands man of the match by the coaches and is only 19, if he had been growing up in England I've no doubt he'd have been on a SL clubs academy books by this point. Oisin Carroll again only 19 was given similar by the Scotland coaches and played well too. While this game is a step up the question is whats the next path for these lads because they are good players who would be in the system somewhere growing up in England.

Scotland had some handy players too although looked older across the board with perhaps a bit more RL experience from some. The full back and stand off look handy and their offloading game was very dangerous and had Ireland struggling at times.

I do agree on Scotland RL as the organiser, it seemed next to non existent. I know Ireland RL is threadbare but even for an away match Ireland had way more fans, coaches etc there. I think Ireland were videoing it too which i expect it will go on YouTube at some point, nothing from Scotland as far as I could see.

Again all that said matches like this can only help both organisations. Well done to both to get them on, with very limited resources its tough to do. A throughly enjoyable match to watch.

For Irish  players  the choice  is either continue  playing  Rugby Union in Ireland  and play All Ireland  League  level  Junior  level in winter. And in he Summer  play League. 

Or migrate to either  England  or Australia  and take a chance there at Semi pro Rugby League  club.

Edited August 23 by corkonian77

[Damien]

Game now on YouTube:

 

 

[Pulga]

On 23/08/2026 at 08:14, groundhopper said:

However the Scottish RL did not appear to exist. I'm not talking of coaches etc but off field.

I could not initially find the entrance and walked in through a side gate. No gate was taken and not expecting a prog or merchandise, I was not disappointed. However the match was preceded by the national anthems, sung with enthusiasm by the teams but with no music of any sort. There was no team sheet or tannoy. 

         

How can it be that poorly run?

Embarrassing really.

[corkonian77]

Are Ireland  going to have Senior  International games. 

Or is whole of Rugby League Ireland  going to Australia?