Ireland Head Coach Mark Aston has today announced his 24 man squad for the upcoming Rugby League World Cup.
The final squad includes a total of ten Super League players and four players from Australia’s NRL competition with the remaining players coming from the Championship and the NSW Cup in the form of Joshua Toole.
Wigan and Catalan Wingers Pat Richards and Damien Blanch have been included in the squad alongside the Grix Brother’s, Simon and Scott, who return to the squad for the first time since 2010.
From the NRL Brett White (Canberra Raiders), Rory Kostjasyn (North Queensland Cowboys), James Hasson (Manly Sea Eagles) and Api Pewhairangi (Parramatta Eels) have all been included in Aston’s final 24 man squad.
In total nine players who competed for Ireland in the 2008 World Cup have been included and will be looking to form a rare club for players who have represented Ireland in two Rugby League World Cups.
The squad will continue to be led by Featherstone Rovers scrum half Liam Finn who was confirmed as captain by Mark Aston in 2012.
Speaking on naming his squad Aston had this to say “I am really pleased with the squad we have named, which is a combination of experience and younger up and coming players from both hemispheres.”
“I am confident that we are fully equipped to be competitive in what is a really tough group and we are really looking forward to the challenge ahead against three of the best teams in the world.”
Ireland Begin their World Cup Campaign on the 28th of October in Rochdale where they face the side who eliminated them from the 2008 tournament, Fiji.
Ireland 24 Man World Cup Squad:
Dave Allen, Luke Ambler, Bob Beswick, Damien Blanch, Danny Bridge*, Ben Currie*, Liam Finn, Simon Finnigan, Scott Grix, Simon Grix, Kurt Haggerty*, James Hasson*, Rory Kostjasyn*, Stuart Littler, Tyrone McCarthy, James Mendeika, Anthony Mullally*, Eamon O’Carroll, Apirana Pewhairangi*, Pat Richards, Colton Roche, Marc Sneyd*, Joshua Toole, Brett White*
*Denotes previously uncapped player.
