Ireland national rugby league team

Template:Short description Template:Distinguish Template:EngvarB Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox rugby league representative team The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland and represents the entire isle of Ireland in international rugby league. The representative team is composed largely of players of Irish descent who compete in the Super League as well as the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the Irish domestic competition.

Since Ireland began competing in international rugby league in 1995, it has participated in the 1995 Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament, the 1996 Super League World Nines, and five Rugby League World Cups – 2000, 2008, 2013, 2017 and 2021.<ref name="Ireland competitions">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> They have also competed in the Rugby League European Nations Cup.<ref name="Ireland competitions" />

Although, the island of Ireland is separate from the island of Great Britain, Irish players such as Cork-born Brian Carney have in the past been selected to play for the Great Britain side.<ref name="Carney GB">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

History

The seeds of modern-day Rugby League in Ireland were sown in 1989 when Brian Corrigan founded the Dublin Blues Rugby League, a club that was primarily used by union players to keep fit during the summer by playing matches against touring British teams.<ref name="Dublin RL">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="History" /> In 1995 the British RFL established Ireland's first development officer and later that year Ireland played against the United States in Washington on St Patricks Day with Ireland winning 24–22.<ref name="History" /><ref name="1st match">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Wigan Warriors player Joe Lydon came on as a substitute despite also serving as the manager. Huddersfield Giants coach Terry Flanagan and former Great Britain Student international Niel Wood were the joint coaches. In August 1995 Ireland beat Scotland at the RDS Arena in Dublin as a curtain raiser to the charity shield match between Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors.<ref name="SCO-IRE RDS">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The matches were played before an attendance of 5,716, a record for an international rugby league match on Irish soil.<ref name="SCO-IRE RDS" /><ref name="SCO-IRE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Former Great Britain player Des Foy played for Ireland.<ref name="SCO-IRE" /> Following their appearance at the 1995 Emerging Nations Tournament, they were invited to the Super League World Nines in Fiji where they finished 8th.<ref name="Super 9s">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Flags and anthems

File:Four Provinces Flag.svg

The Four Provinces Flag of Ireland

The Irish rugby league team is one of many Irish teams that draws its players from across the island of Ireland. It utilises the Four Provinces Flag of Ireland and the all-island anthem, "Ireland's Call". Unlike the Irish rugby union team, the Irish rugby league team neither plays Amhrán na bhFiann, the national anthem of the Irish state, nor God Save the King/Queen, the national anthem of Northern Ireland,Template:Citation needed in addition to Ireland's Call when playing at home.

1995 Emerging Nations Tournament

Ireland were included in the tournament held in England and were placed in Group B alongside Moldova and Morocco. Ireland beat Moldova 48–24 before beating Morocco 42–6 to progress to the final. In the final Ireland lost 6–22 to the Cook Islands at Gigg Lane in Bury.<ref name="IRE Emerging">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Coached by Terry Flanagan, Ireland's squad included professionals Des Foy and Martin Crompton in an otherwise domestic based squad.

2000 World Cup

1997 saw more England-based Super League players making themselves available by use of the grandparent rule. The Irish team improved its standards but this development gave less opportunity for Irish-based players to get a chance to play. However, Irish-based players were included in the Irish squad for the triangular tournaments in 1998 against France and Scotland and 1999 against Scotland and Wales. Their success was enough to earn a place in the 2000 World Cup. Finishing top of their group, the Irish eventually lost 26–16 to England in the quarter-finals, but the performance set the scene for future developments in Ireland.<ref name="IRE ENG 2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2008 World Cup

Ireland were drawn against Lebanon and Russia in Europe's 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying Pool Two. Ireland topped the group with a 16–16 draw with Lebanon at Dewsbury on 2 November 2007. The draw meant Ireland qualified for the 2008 World Cup on points difference from Lebanon as both nations gained the same number of group points.

File:Ireland 2008 RLWC.jpg

Ireland at the 2008 World Cup.

At the 2008 World Cup in Australia, Ireland were in Group C along with Tonga and Samoa. They lost to Tonga on 27 October in Parramatta, Sydney, but were victorious against Samoa, again in Parramatta, on 5 November and topped the group on points difference.<ref name="TON IRE 08">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IRE SAM 08">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> As the group winners, they played Fiji, winners of Group B, for a chance to qualify for the semi-final.<ref name="FIJ IRE 08">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Fiji won 30–14 eliminating Ireland.<ref name="FIJ IRE 08" />

2013 World Cup

File:England v Ireland 2013 RLWC (3).jpg

England v Ireland 2013 RLWC

For the 2013 World Cup Ireland were drawn in group A alongside Australia, England and 2008 World Cup rivals Fiji. Ireland was granted automatic entry to the tournament due to their strong showing in the 2008 World Cup. Ireland lost all three group matches including a 0–50 defeat to eventual champions Australia in front of 5,021 fans at Thomond Park.<ref name="AUS defeat IRE">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation

|CitationClass=web }}</ref>

2017 World Cup

Template:See also Ireland kicked off their campaign with a shock 36–12 win over Italy in Cairns. In the next pool match Ireland lost a narrow match to PNG 14–6 with PNG needing a 78th minute try to win the game. Ireland's final pool match was against Wales in Perth where they ran out comfortable winners 34–6. Ireland did not progress to the next round of the tournament despite winning more games than Lebanon or Samoa who qualified for the last 8.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

2021 World Cup

Template:See also Ireland started 2021 Rugby League World Cup qualification campaign in the 2018 European Championship, where they finished third with a win against Scotland and two losses against France and Wales. Ireland's third-place finish required them to participate in the 2019 European play-off tournament to ensure qualification. Here they managed to achieve two wins against Italy and Spain, leading to their World Cup qualification. Ireland were drawn into Group C, alongside New Zealand, Lebanon and Jamaica.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In April 2022 Offaly-born Ged Corcoran took over from Stuart Littler for the World Cup campaign.<ref name="Littler era"/> Ireland finished the tournament with a 1–2 record beating Jamaica in their opener, before losing to Lebanon and New Zealand.<ref name="IRE NZL 22 RWLC">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Demotion to affiliate status and 2026 World Cup ineligibility

In March 2024, the International Rugby League deemed that Ireland had been non-compliant with the terms of the IRL membership policy and consequently would be reclassified as an affiliate member.<ref name="2026 RLWC cycle">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> This decision also made Ireland ineligible to participate in qualifiers for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.<ref name="2026 RLWC cycle"/>

Coaches

Updated as of 12 October 2025

Name	Tenure	Matches	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %	Championships/Notes
Template:Flagicon Terry Flanagan	1995–1996	6	4	0	2	{{#expr:4/6*100 round 2}}%
Template:Flagicon Steve O'Neill	1997–2001*	10	6	1	3	{{#expr:6/10*100 round 2}}%	Triangular Series
Template:Flagicon Daryl Powell	2003–2005	9	5	0	4	{{#expr:5/9*100 round 2}}%
Template:Flagicon Andy Kelly<ref name="Kelly era">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2006–2010 || 14 || 5 || 2 || 7 || {{#expr:5/14*100 round 2}}%||
Template:Flagicon Mark Aston<ref name="Littler appointed">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2011–2017 || 20 || 8 || 0 || 12 || {{#expr:8/20*100 round 2}}%||
Template:Flagicon Carl De Chenu†	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="2015 Euro preview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> September – October 2016<ref name="IRE Italy 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IRE MAL 2016">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="IRE JAM preview">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> June 2018<ref name="IRE HUN preview 2018">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 7 || 6 || 0 ||1 || {{#expr:6/7*100 round 2}}%||
Template:Flagicon Stuart Littler<ref name="Littler era">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Littler departs">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2018–2022 || 5 || 3 || 0 || 2 || {{#expr:3/5*100 round 2}}%||
Template:Flagicon Ged Corcoran	2022	3	1	0	2	{{#expr:1/3*100 round 2}}%
Template:Flagicon Wayne Kerr<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref> || 2024– || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || {{#expr:3/3*100 round 2}}% ||
Total	1995–	77	41	3	33	{{#expr:41/77*100 round 2}}%	Template:N/a
*Andy Kelly and Steve O'Neill were considered joint coaches during the 2000 World Cup and for Ireland's 2001 test with France.<ref name="Joint coaches">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation								CitationClass=web }}</ref>
†Between 2015 and 2018 Carl De Chenu served as the domestic coach for test matches and assumed the role of assistant coach for the European Championships and World Cup.

Current squad

The 28-man squad selected for the Autumn 2025 tests against Template:Rl and Template:Rl.<ref>https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/former-wigan-warriors-trio-earn-ireland-call-ups-for-upcoming-tests-with-full-squad-announced-5358448</ref>

Player	Club
Aaron Lynch	Template:Flagicon Swinton Lions
Tom Ashurst	Template:Flagicon Swinton Lions
Aidan McGowan	Template:Flagicon Huddersfield Giants
Connor Carr	Template:Flagicon Huddersfield Giants
George King	Template:Flagicon Huddersfield Giants
Harry Rushton	Template:Flagicon Huddersfield Giants
Brendan O’Hagan	Template:Flagicon Entrance Tigers
Daire Kemp	Template:Flagicon Longhorns RL
Dan Lynch	Template:Flagicon Rochdale Hornets
Dec O’Donnell	Template:Flagicon Rochdale Hornets
Daniel Corcoran	Template:Flagicon Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs
Isaac Baynham	Template:Flagicon Leigh Leopards
Jack Brown	Template:Flagicon York Knights
Jake Thewlis	Template:Flagicon Warrington Wolves
Joe Philbin	Template:Flagicon Warrington Wolves
Toby King	Template:Flagicon Warrington Wolves
James Farrar	Template:Flagicon Ireland A Pathways
Lewis Wing	Template:Flagicon Ireland A Pathways
Jamie Gill	Template:Flagicon Bradford Bulls
Ronan Michael	Template:Flagicon Bradford Bulls
Lachlan Lanskey	Template:Flagicon Keighley Cougars
Oliver Whitford	Template:Flagicon Keighley Cougars
Liam O’Callaghan	Template:Flagicon Wests Warriors
Louix Gorman	Template:Flagicon Hull KR
Lucas Castle	Template:Flagicon Workington Town
Pat Moran	Template:Flagicon Oldham Roughyeds
Ryan Hogg	Template:Flagicon Dublin City Exiles
Will Walker	Template:Flagicon Sherwood Wolf Hunt

Individual Records

Statistics are up to date as of 30 October 2022.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bold indicates current player. Template:Col-begin Template:Col-break

Most caps
Rank	Name	Career	Caps	Tries	Position
1	Liam Finn	2007–18	32	8	SO
2	Bob Beswick	2006–15	27	3	HK
3	Scott Grix	2006–18	22	8	FB
4	Stuart Littler	2004–16	21	13	FB
5	Luke Ambler	2009–16	20	6	FW

Most tries
Rank	Name	Career	Caps	Tries	Position
1	Stuart Littler	2004–16	21	13	FB
2	Casey Dunne	2014–18	13	12	FB
3	Damien Blanch	2006–13	9	9	WG
	Phil Cantillon	2003–06	7	9	HK
	Karl Fitzpatrick	2003–09	13	9	FB

Most points
Rank	Name	Career	Caps	Tries	Points	Position
1	Liam Finn	2007–18	32	8	170	SO
2	James Kelly	2015–16	7	5	64	SO
	Casey Dunne	2014–18	13	12	64	FB
4	Stuart Littler	2004–16	21	13	54	FB
5	Karl Fitzpatrick	2003–09	13	9	46	FB

Competitive records

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Ireland compete in the Rugby League European Nations Cup and have participated in the Rugby League World Cup.

Head to head record

Ireland's competitive record as of 06 October 2025 <ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Against	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Template:Rl	1	0	0	1	{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%	0	50	–50
Template:Rl	1	1	0	0	{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%	34	0	+34
Template:Rl	1	0	0	1	{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%	6	22	–16
Template:Rl	3	0	0	3	{{#expr:0/3*100 round 2}}%	28	104	–76
Template:Flagicon England Knights	2	0	0	2	{{#expr:0/2*100 round 2}}%	8	118	–110
Template:Rl	2	0	0	2	{{#expr:0/2*100 round 2}}%	28	62	–34
Template:Rl	9	1	1	7	{{#expr:1/9*100 round 2}}%	172	295	–123
Template:Rl	1	1	0	0	{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%	70	0	+70
Template:Rl	3	3	0	0	{{#expr:3/3*100 round 2}}%	121	42	+79
Template:Rl	2	1	0	1	{{#expr:1/2*100 round 2}}%	64	70	–6
Template:Rl	4	0	2	2	{{#expr:0/4*100 round 2}}%	64	106	–42
Template:Rl	2	2	0	0	{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%	92	32	+60
Template:Rl	1	1	0	0	{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%	48	26	+22
Template:Rl	1	1	0	0	{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%	42	6	+36
Template:Rl	1	0	0	1	{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%	10	48	–38
Template:Rl	1	1	0	0	{{#expr:1/1*100 round 2}}%	30	16	+14
Template:Rl	2	2	0	0	{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%	60	28	+32
Template:Rl	1	0	0	1	{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%	6	14	–8
Template:Rl	4	3	0	1	{{#expr:3/4*100 round 2}}%	184	110	+74
Template:Rl	2	2	0	0	{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%	64	32	+32
Template:Rl	15	11	0	4	{{#expr:11/15*100 round 2}}%	335	261	+74
Template:Rl	2	2	0	0	{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%	106	16	+90
Template:Rl	2	2	0	0	{{#expr:2/2*100 round 2}}%	88	14	+74
Template:Rl	1	0	0	1	{{#expr:0/1*100 round 2}}%	20	22	–2
Template:Rl	3	3	0	0	{{#expr:3/3*100 round 2}}%	112	50	+62
Template:Rl	10	4	0	6	{{#expr:4/10*100 round 2}}%	199	253	–54
Total	77	41	3	33	{{#expr:41/77*100 round 2}}%	1,991	1,797	+194

IRL Rankings

World Cup

World Cup Record										World Cup qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip		Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip	Template:Tooltip
Template:Flagicon 1954	Did not enter									Did not enter
Template:Flagicon 1957
Template:Flagicon 1960
Template:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon 1968
Template:Flagicon 1970
Template:Flagicon 1972
1975
Template:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon 1977
1985–88
1989–92
Template:Flagicon 1995
Template:Flagicon Template:Flagicon Template:FlagiconTemplate:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon 2000	Quarter-finals	Fifth place	4	3	0	1	94	64		Qualified as co-hosts
Template:Flagicon 2008	Semi-final qualifier	Fifth place	3	1	0	2	68	68		4	2	2	0	142	64
Template:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon2013	Group stage	14th	3	0	0	3	14	124		Automatic qualifier
Template:FlagiconTemplate:FlagiconTemplate:Flagicon 2017	Group stage	9th	3	2	0	1	76	32		2	2	0	0	116	22
Template:Flagicon 2021	Group stage	9th	3	1	0	2	72	82		2	2	0	0	67	12
Template:Flagicon 2026	Ineligible to participate in qualifiers									Ineligible to participate in qualifiers
Total	5/16	Fifth place	16	7	0	9	324	370		8	6	2	0	325	98

A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within Ireland.

European Championship

European Championship record
Year	Round	Position		GP	W	L	D
1935–1996	did not enter
2003	Group Stage	3/3		2	1	1	0
2004	Second Place	2/6		3	2	1	0
2005	Group Stage	2/3		2	1	1	0
2009	Fourth Place	4/6		3	1	2	0
2010	Fourth Place	4/4		3	0	3	0
2012	Second Place	2/3		2	1	1	0
2014	Third Place	3/4		3	2	1	0
2015	Third Place	3/4		3	1	2	0
2018	Third Place	3/4		3	1	2	0
Total	0 Titles	9/33		24	10	14	0

Triangular Series

Triangular Series Record
Year	Round	Position	GP	W	L	D
1999	1st Place	1/3	2	2	0	0
Total	1/1	1 Title	2	2	0	0

This one-off tournament was contested by Ireland, Scotland and Wales.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref><ref name="Ireland beat Wales">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Honours

• 1999 Triangular Series

Stadium and Attendances

In 2015 Rugby League Ireland announced that the Carlisle Grounds in Bray, County Wicklow would become the official home ground of the national team.<ref name="Stadium">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Despite this announcement, Ireland have also subsequently used Morton Stadium in Santry as their home ground.<ref name="Morton">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Below is a list of the highest attendances for international rugby league matches in Ireland.

Rank	Attendance	Opponent	Date	Venue	Metro area
1	5,716	Scotland	1995-08-13	RDS Arena	Dublin<ref name="SCO-IRE" />
2	5,021	Australia	2013-11-09	Thomond Park	Limerick<ref name="AUS defeat IRE" />
3	3,207	Samoa	2000-10-28	Windsor Park	Belfast<ref name="IRE SAM 2000">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
4	3,164	New Zealand Maori	2000-11-04	Tolka Park	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>
5	3,100	France	2011-11-05	Thomond Park	citation	CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Ireland A

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File:Wolfhounds logo.jpg

Ireland Wolfhounds logo

The Ireland A team is selected from players in the Irish domestic competition, administered by Rugby League Ireland. The Ireland A side competed in the St Patrick's Day Challenge between 2000 and 2012 and in the Amateur Four Nations from 2003 to 2014.

See also

• Rugby league in Ireland
• Rugby League European Nations Cup
• Rugby League Emerging Nations Tournament
• Rugby League World Cup
• Rugby League Ireland
• List of Ireland national rugby league team players
• Ireland national rugby union team

External links

• Home page of Rugby League Ireland
• Ireland: European Rugby League