Rugby League Ireland has sowed the seeds for possible Super League involvement within the next five years with this week-end’s Scouting Academy, held at Tom Clifford Park in Limerick. Young players from all four Irish provinces have been registered among over 30 participants for the academy which will involve fitness testing, interviews and a game watched by head coaches from top Super League clubs including St Helens and Wigan. The hopefuls will be aspiring to follow in the footsteps of ex-Dublin Blue Brian Carney, pictured, who first played Super League with Gateshead before moving onto Hull, Wigan, Warrington and the NRL.

“Rugby League has been growing significantly in this country in recent years and the idea of this academy weekend in Limerick is to give players of high ability an opportunity to sign with some of the top clubs,” said Gordon Matthews, general manager of Rugby League Ireland.

He added that his organisation wanted to recruit young Irish players who will hopefully help to strengthen the Emerald Isle’s participation in the World Cup in 2013:  “We have been encouraged by the response in Limerick this week. Within five years we hope to have a Super League team in Ireland with high profile games being played at venues such as Thomond Park.”

Young Munster back-row and Ireland rugby league international Brendan Guilfoyle was of the view that many senior rugby union clubs throughout the country did not have a problem with players playing rugby league during the summer break: “There are a lot of benefits and this academy provides an exciting opportunity for young players who wish to further their careers,” he noted.

 Rugby League Ireland currently has registered 20 clubs throughout the 32 counties and their three provincial league season runs over 14 weeks. Niel Wood, the Rugby Football League’s Director of European Development, was also present to discuss the prospect of Irish rugby league franchises taking part in Super League competition in the coming years.