The Ireland Wolfhounds Rugby League team meet England in Waterford this Sunday. Waterford City will play host to the amateur international between Ireland and England at the Waterford Regional Sports Ground with a kick-off time of 10.00am. Representative Rugby League has previously been played in both Belfast and Dublin but the Rugby League Ireland's decision to take this prestigious game to Waterford will help expand awareness of the sport within Ireland.
Rugby League Ireland team Manager, Patrick Harkins said: "Rugby League Ireland believes the inaugural Amateur Four Nations championship will provide a benchmark for all future European development. By facilitating a real international tournament local administrators should be spurred on to greater efforts to drive forward their domestic competitions and enhance League's status as a genuine international sport."
He added: "We are delighted to be hosting a match that pitches England against our own Ireland Wolfhounds in Waterford. England Lionhearts will be a tough opener to the Four Nations competition for Ireland's Wolfhounds. The Rugby League Conference is at a higher level of maturity than our own competition so it will be useful to gauge where we are on the board relative to their impressive growth over the last five years. Rugby League Ireland looks forward to an entertaining game with our friends and neighbours."
Commenting on the Amateur Championship as a whole, Tournament Director, Graeme Thompson added: "The respective nations are putting in a lot of work towards competing in these championships, which highlights the importance they attach to it. The injection of long existing international rivalries into our annual calendar is certain to be a strong vehicle for galvanising yet more progress in the grass-root development of Rugby League."
Filed by Shane Murray
