Ged Corcoran has named an exciting 24-man Rugby League Ireland squad for the Rugby League World Cup 2021, with representatives from sixteen clubs.
The Ireland Head Coach has selected twelve Betfred Super League players who make up the majority of the squad, with five top-quality NRL stars alongside a further seven men from the Betfred Championship for the senior men’s Irish squad.
Nine members of the team have been previously capped with Ireland, with fifteen then eligible to make their first senior appearances for the Wolfhounds during the Rugby League World Cup 2021.
The Irish squad, led by captain Hull KR’s George King, includes 2022 Grand Finalists James Bentley and Richie Myler from Leeds Rhinos, as well as 2022 Challenge Cup winning prop Liam Byrne from Wigan Warriors alongside his club teammate James McDonnell.
Five NRL clubs are represented, headlined by Sydney Roosters playmaker Luke Keary who has publicly declared a passionate desire to pull on the green jersey. Powerful prop forwards Jaimin Jolliffe of the Gold Coast Titans and James Hasson from South Sydney Rabbitohs bring size to the pack, which Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs’ Josh Cook could lead from the hooker position, with West Tigers youngster Henry O’Kane available in the back-row.
Highly rated former Canberra Raider, now Huddersfield Giants man, Harry Rushton is in line to make his senior international bow at the World Cup too with the Wolfhounds.
Halifax Panthers’ Joe Keyes is one of the seven Championship players in Corcoran’s squad and comes into the tournament in outstanding form which was reflected by being named on the shortlist for the competition’s Player of the Year. The Halifax half has already been capped eight times as an Irish international.
Ireland Men’s Rugby League World Cup 2021 tournament schedule:
Jamaica vs Ireland – Sunday, 16th October – 5pm KO – Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Lebanon vs Ireland – Sunday, 23rd October – 2.30pm KO – Leigh Sports Village
New Zealand vs Ireland – Friday, 28th October – 7.30pm KO – Headingley Stadium, Leeds
Ireland Wolfhounds Squad:
James Bentley – Leeds Rhinos
Keanan Brand – Leigh Centurions
Liam Byrne – Wigan Warriors
Ed Chamberlain – Leigh Centurions
Josh Cook – Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Frankie Halton – Hull KR
James Hasson – South Sydney Rabbitohs
Jaimin Jolliffe – Gold Coast Titans
Luke Keary – Sydney Roosters
Joe Keyes – Halifax Panthers
Toby King – Wigan Warriors
George King (captain) – Hull KR
Ben Mathiou – Featherstone Rovers
James McDonnell – Wigan Warriors
Ronan Michael – York City Knights
Robbie Mulhern – Warrington Wolves
Richie Myler – Leeds Rhinos
Dan Norman – St Helens
Brendan O’Hagan – York City Knights
Henry O’Kane – West Tigers
Harry Rushton – Huddersfield Giants
Innes Senior – Huddersfield Giants
Louis Senior – Hull KR
Michael Ward – Batley Bulldogs
