DRAWN in Pool 3, Ireland will compete in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup in Australia next October.
Qualification through their win over Russian in Carlow and a tense draw with favourites Lebanon in the Dewsbury Rams stadium near Leeds last November earned the Irish their place in this 13th staging of an event whose origin dates back to 1954.
"Lebanon were fancied to go through but we certainly turned form on its head by holding them to level scores," Rugby League Ireland's executive director, local man Niall Cantrell told the Limerick Leader this week.
"Billy Treacy of Treaty City Titans, who played union with Old Crescent and Garryowen, took part in the Russia game and it is possible that at least two local players will be in the 24-man squad."
Challenging Role
Niall has taken on the challenging role of executive director at a time when interest in the league game is rising in this country. His target is to raise €300,000 by the end of August: "It's a big ask, but early indications are positive. On our recent visit to Sydney, RLI director Tony Kenny and myself secured major sponsorship from Australian-based furnishing giant Harvey Norman and we are now building from there. This company is also a sponsor of the Australian Rugby League. The league game is the biggest sport in the Sydney area and I will be travelling back to Australia for a ten-day trip that will include the St Patrick's Day Parade where Rugby League Ireland have a promotional float.
"At present we are getting the word out both in Australia and in England that we are looking for top club players who have Irish parents or grandparents who would be interested in declaring for Ireland for the World Cup. We must have at least five domestic league players in our squad, but after that it is open season. In Australia one in every three people are of Irish extraction so we have to tap into that from a rugby league perspective."
While the target of over a quarter of a million euro is a big challenge for fund-raiser Niall Cantrell, that figure is going to be necessary for the success of Ireland's rugby league venture.
Wage Bill
The wage bill for the project is estimated at €125,000 alone. The professional league game does not come cheap, but as qualifiers Rugby League Ireland will have all their travel, hotel and accommodation expenses covered by the organisers, according to the RLI executive director.
"This World Cup will provide us with the ideal opportunity to raise the profile of rugby league on this island. The 2008 Rugby League World Cup will be the fourth largest televised sporting event in the world this year and is expected to attract record-breaking attendances and viewing figures. Unfortunately, there continues to be a demarcation line between league and union that has lingered on for decades. People from both sides jump into the bunkers when controversy arises, but I won't be turning my back on the union game with which I have a life-long association.
"I have taken on this job for a year and if there is another offer on the table after that I will consider it. With Tony Kenny I have set up a team in Sydney headed up by Matt Fisk and Darren Flynn that will help to raise the Irish league profile in Australia.
"Sydney is a mirror image of Limerick rugby-wise but obviously much larger with clubs dotted all over the place.
"It is extremely exciting to be part of a team that is putting Irish sport on the world stage again."
Ireland's opponents in Pool 3 are Tonga and Samoa and if they get through they will be meeting the winners of Pool 2 (France, Fiji and Scotland) for a place in the semi-finals. Three teams come through from Pool 1 which is seeded to include three of the big boys, England, New Zealand and Australia, as well as Papua New Guinea.
Ireland's aim will be to get to the last four stage and test their ability against the top three sides in the world. Niall Cantrell was elected to his new role at the RLI annual general meeting in Tullamore at the turn of the year.
"Around 600 players are registered with the RLI for the current season and the popularity of the game has significantly increased here over the past five years with players from almost every local club now involved."
Limerick is represented by the Treaty City Titans, Irish champions for the past three seasons, with their second string, Treaty City Spartans, competing in the Southern Conference.
"England are expected to play a game in Limerick next season while 18 clubs are registered to play in Rugby League Ireland.
"We have appointed Luke Rickerson, who played for Ireland in World Cup 2000, as the RLI ambassador for this World Cup and he will help to raise our profile.
"Coach of the Irish team is Andy Kelly, a former Irish international who is also coach to the Dewsbury Rams; Terry O'Connor who played in the UK Super League, is the assistant manager while assistant coach is Barry McDermott."