Rugby League Ireland is ready for the forthcoming challenge in the European Championship and confident that their progress made this year will be beneficial.
Last season the Wolfhounds just lost out in the Euros on points’ difference, the margin being a try, and they open their 2015 campaign in Albi against France on 17th October before travelling to Scotland and then facing Wales at home, in their new headquarters at Bray.
“The support of our title sponsor McGettigan’s and the development at senior level with only domestic-based players against Belgium, Serbia and Malta assures us more strength and more confidence to win this competition,” according to RLI director Richard Egan. “That can only strengthen the position of the sport in our country and our team in the international rugby league context.”
Head coach Mark Aston’s men are also building towards the 2016 European Qualifiers for the 2017 World Cup.
“We are positive and buoyed by our performance in the Euros last year, especially because of the involvement of local players like Matty Hadden who continue to bring their new learning back to the Irish clubs and representative sides,” Egan added. “We will also count on the leadership of seasoned internationals such as Liam Finn, Bob Beswick and Luke Ambler.”
