Ireland national rugby league team
The Ireland men's national rugby league team, known as the Wolfhounds, is organised by Rugby League Ireland. The representative team is dominated by players from the Super League and sometimes includes players from the Australasian National Rugby League. Ireland is also represented by an Ireland A side, which is made up of players from the domestic Irish 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 three Rugby League World Cups – 2000, 2008 and 2013. They have also competed in the Rugby League European Nations Cup and Victory Cup. Ireland A compete in the St Patrick's Day Challenge in the US and in the Amateur Four Nations.
Irish players have in the past been selected to play for the Great Britain side, one recent example being Cork-born Brian Carney.
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. 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. Wigan Warriors player Joe Lydon came on as a substitute despite him being there as manager. Huddersfield Giants coach Terry Flanagan and former Great Britain 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. The matches were played before an attendance of 5716, a record for an international rugby league match on Irish soil. Former Great Britain player Des Foy played for Ireland. Following their appearance at the 1995 Emerging Nations Tournament they were invited to the Super League World Nines in Fiji where they finished 8th. Prior to the tournament Ireland played a game of touch rugby against Australia in Fiji's National Stadium on 20 February going down 12-20. Later that year Ireland returned to the US to play in the St Patrick's Day match winning 14-12Flags and anthems
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 rugby union team from whom the anthem originates, the Irish rugby league team does not play Amhrán na bhFiann, the national anthem of the Irish state 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 2 alongside Moldova and Morocco. Ireland beat Moldova 48-24 before beating Morocco 42-6 to progress to the final. Gigg Lane in Bury was the venue for the final against Cook Islands but Ireland lost 6-22. Coached by Terry Flanagan, Ireland's squad included professionals Des Foy and Martin Crompton in an otherwise domestic based squad2000 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.
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.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. As the group winners, they played Fiji, winners of Group B, for a chance to qualify for the semi-final. Fiji won 30–14 and so Ireland were eliminated.
2013 World Cup
For the 2013 World Cup being staged in England, Wales, France and Ireland. Ireland have been drawn in group A alongside Australia, England and 2008 World Cup rivals Fiji. Ireland have been granted automatic entry to the tournament due to their strong showing in the 2008 World CupMark Aston the head coach and driving force behind the Sheffield Eagles was confirmed as the head coach of Rugby League Ireland.
His appointment was announced at a press conference in Sheffield on Tuesday 24 May 2011 and he is confirmed in the role for the World Cup in 2013.
2017 World Cup
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 8.2021 World Cup
Ireland started qualifying for the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in the 2018 European Championship, where they finished third with a win against Scotland and two losses against France and Wales. This led to them playing in the 2019 European play-off tournament, where they grabbed two wins against Italy and Spain, qualifying them for the World Cup. Here they were drawn into Group C, alongside New Zealand, Lebanon and Jamaica.Current squad
The 22-man national team squad selected for the first match day of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup European play-off tournament.| Player | Date of birth | Caps | Pts | Club | |
| Gregg McNally | 11 | 34 | Leigh Centurions | ||
| Roland Podesta | 0 | 0 | Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles | ||
| Zack McComb | 0 | 0 | Oldham | ||
| Ethan Ryan | 3 | 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers | ||
| Matthew Coade | 1 | 22 | Longhorns RL | ||
| Joe Keyes | 6 | 0 | Hull Kingston Rovers | ||
| Liam Byrne | 3 | 0 | Wigan Warriors | ||
| Frankie Halton | 0 | 0 | Swinton Lions | ||
| Ronan Michael | 3 | 0 | Huddersfield Giants | ||
| Pat Moran | 0 | 0 | Warrington Wolves | ||
| Michael Ward | 3 | 0 | Batley Bulldogs | ||
| Bob Beswick | 25 | 12 | Newcastle Thunder | ||
| Sam Cullen | 0 | 0 | Barrowcudas, Carlow | ||
| Declan O'Donnell | 3 | 4 | Workington Town | ||
| Danny Bridge | 5 | 0 | Oldham | ||
| Tyrone McCarthy | 17 | 8 | Salford Red Devils | ||
| James Mulvaney | 0 | 0 | Longhorns RL | ||
| Martyn Reilly | 0 | 0 | Dewsbury Rams | ||
| Oliver Roberts | 8 | 20 | Huddersfield Giants | ||
| James Bentley | 3 | 4 | St. Helens | ||
| George King | 8 | 16 | Wakefield Trinity | ||
| Matthew Towey | 0 | 0 | Galway Tribesmen |
Coaches
- Updated as of 10 November 2019
| Name | Tenure | Matches | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % |
 Terry Flanagan | 1995–1996 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | % |
| Steve O'Neill | 1997–1999 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | % |
| Andy Kelly | 2000–2011 | 28 | 13 | 2 | 13 | % |
| Mark Aston | 2011– 2017 | 25 | 13 | 0 | 12 | % |
 Carl De Chenu | October 2016, June 2018 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | % |
| Stuart Littler | 2018–present | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | % |
Competitive record
Ireland made its international rugby league debut in 1995 with a victory over Scotland 26-22 in the RDS Arena. They compete in the Rugby League European Nations Cup and have participated in the Rugby League World Cup.Overall record
* As of 10 November 2019| Against | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Win % | For | Aga | Diff |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | % | 0 | 50 | –50 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | % | 34 | 0 | +34 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | % | 6 | 22 | –16 | |
| 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | % | 28 | 104 | –76 | |
| England Knights | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | % | 8 | 118 | –110 |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | % | 28 | 62 | –34 | |
| 9 | 1 | 1 | 7 | % | 172 | 295 | –123 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | % | 70 | 0 | +70 | |
| 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | % | 121 | 42 | +79 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | % | 16 | 68 | –52 | |
| 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | % | 50 | 74 | –24 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | % | 92 | 32 | +60 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | % | 48 | 26 | +22 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | % | 42 | 6 | +36 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | % | 30 | 16 | +14 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | % | 6 | 14 | –8 | |
| 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | % | 184 | 110 | +74 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | % | 64 | 32 | +32 | |
| 14 | 10 | 0 | 4 | % | 299 | 255 | +44 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | % | 106 | 16 | +90 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | % | 88 | 14 | +74 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | % | 20 | 22 | –2 | |
| 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | % | 98 | 38 | +60 | |
| 10 | 4 | 0 | 6 | % | 199 | 253 | –54 | |
| Total | 70 | 36 | 3 | 31 | % | 1809 | 1669 | +140 |
A red box around the year indicates tournaments played within Ireland.
World Cup
European Championship
- Note these are the results of the cups that had a 'Final' game and beyond.
Triangular Series
Rankings
Records
- As of 8 February 2020
Most capped players
Most Tries
Most Points
Honours
- 1999 Triangular Series
Notable players
- Pat Richards
- Brett White
- Liam Finn
- Shannon McDonnell
- Scott Grix
- Damien Blanch
- Brian Carney
- Phil Cantillon
- Luke Ricketson
- Louie McCarthy Scarsbrook
Ireland A