RUGBY LEAGUE NATION

 

 

Foundation Year - 1995

International Team - Wolfhounds

Highest finish in World Cup - Qualifying Semi-Final (2008), Quarter Final (2000)

Top level domestic competition - Ireland's domestic rugby league competition has been running since 1997. Ireland currently have 6 teams playing in the Lucozade Elite League. The competition runs from May through to August. Ireland also run a north and south conference which have 4 teams each. In 2009 histroy was made with the kickoff of a new Northern Ireland 4 team competition.

History - Rugby league in Ireland was started by Irish rugby union players wanting to keep fit in the off season. The Dublin Blues club was formed in 1989 and played against touring British teams. The first big step for Ireland was the appointment of a development officer in 1995. Since 1995 the Ireland domestic competition has grown significantly and now has over 15 teams involved.

Ireland first started playing rugby league at an international level in 1995. Ireland took part in the Emerging Nations World Cup and defeated Morocco and Moldova securing a place in the ENWC Final. In a hard fought game against the Cook Islands, Ireland went down narrowly losing by 4 points.

With the continued development of the game in Ireland the next big step was the 2000 Rugby League World Cup. Ireland surprised many by winning all of their pool games against Samoa, Scotland and NZ Maori. In a tough quarter final game Ireland pushed England all the way. Ireland were eventually defeated by England 26 -16.

Ireland were forced to play in qualifiers to book a place in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. They defeated Russia twice in the qualifying rounds. With the luck of the Irish on their side they qualified for the World Cup on for and against after both matches against Lebanon ended in a draw.

In 2008 Ireland were ranked 3rd in European seedings by the Rugby League European Federation (RLEF).

Ireland were grouped with Tonga and Samoa in a tough Pool during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup. Ireland did not need any luck to become one of the success stories of the competition. Backed to finish last in their group Ireland defied the critics by finishing top of the group and making it into the qualifying semi-final. To get there Ireland produced a major upset by defeating Samoa 34 - 16. Ireland were one step away from making history by becoming the first Irish team to make it to the semi-final of a major international competition. But it wasn't to be as Ireland went down fighting to Fiji 30 - 14 in the qualifying semi-final.

On back of their 2008 World Cup success, Ireland Rugby League plan to enter a team into the National League 2 as part of the games development in Ireland. Their inclusion might be 5 to 10 years away unless a financial backer can be found earlier. The Irish team would develop along the same lines as the Celtic Crusaders in Wales. The Crusaders started in NL2 and then were promoted to NL1 before being awarded a Super League franchise.

In early 2009 Ireland were ranked 7th in World seedings by the Rugby League International Federation (RLIF). This is Ireland's highest ranking to date.

In May 2009 a Northern Ireland conference is due to kick-off involving 4 teams. This is great news for Rugby League as it continues to expand it's boarders.

In late 2009 Ireland participated in the European Cup competition along side Lebanon, Wales, Scotland, Serbia and Italy. Ireland didn't have a good campaign and ony managed a win against Serbia. By finishing 4th Ireland have just secured their place in the 2010 European Nations Cup. The 2010 version will see the winner qualify as the 4th team in the 2011 Four Nations series due to be played in the northern hemisphere.

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