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The beginning that led to the World Cup THE seed of
modern-day rugby league in Ireland was sown when in 1989 the Dublin Blues
were founded by Brian Corrigan.
They consisted mostly of rugby union players who wanted to stay fit over
the summer.
The Blues competed against touring teams from Britain and surprised many
of the touring sides with the quality of their play, scoring many memorable
wins over British amateur opposition.
In early 1995 the British Rugby Football League development arm financed
the position of a Development Officer for Ireland, providing a massive
lift to the development of the game.
In the same year Ireland formed its very first competitive team to play
against the USA in Washington on St. Patrick’s Day. Ireland won
24-22 with Wigan legend Joe Lydon coming on as a replacement. He had gone
out there as a manager but was drafted in to play.
Terry Flanagan, Huddersfield coach and former Great Britain player and
Niel Wood, director of British Student Rugby League, coached the team.
In August 1995 Ireland beat Scotland at the RDS in Dublin. The game was
played as a curtain raiser to the British Charity Shield encounter between
Wigan and Leeds.
These two victories ensured that Ireland were included in the Emerging
Nations World Cup in the Autumn of 1995. Coached by Flanagan and Wood
the Ireland team beat Moldova and Morocco but lost 22-6 to the Cook Islands
in the final held at Gigg Lane, Bury in England.
In February 1996 a Senior Irish squad traveled to Fiji for the Inaugural
Super League World Nines. Ireland managed to finish eighth out of 16 nations.
During the tournament Ireland played Japan, France, New Zealand, Samoa
and Tonga.
Following discussions an unofficial ‘test’ was organised between
Ireland and the World Champions Australia on February 20, 1996. The match
was played at the Fiji National Stadium and was won by Australia 20-12,
a result that forced the rugby league world to take note of Ireland who
have continued to go from strength to strength ever since. |
