Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston has called upon Belfast born Matty Hadden to join the Ireland squad for the Rugby League World Cup.

Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston has called upon Belfast born Matty Hadden to join the Ireland squad for the Rugby League World Cup.

Following the withdrawal of Warrington’s Simon Grix from the squad Hadden linked up with the squad yesterday for his first training session at the UCLAN Sports Arena in Preston.

The Oxford prop made his debut under Aston in last season’s victory over Scotland and picked up a second cap against England Knights in his hometown.

Following a successful first season in Championship 1 Hadden had just missed out on the 24 man squad when it was named a few weeks ago.

Speaking on the addition to his squad Mark Aston had high praise for the former Antrim Eels man “He’s a top young man who has certainly progressed over the last twelve months.”

“He works hard and is an uncompromising sort of prop forward and I’m sure for his personal development this will be massive for him.”

Hadden will now be looking to impress Aston further ahead of Ireland’s opening game against Fiji which takes place in Rochdale on Monday 28th of October.

Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston Belfast born Matty Hadden