from Rugby League Ireland
Ireland V Jamaica - Sunday 16th October 3pm The Carlisle Grounds, Bray
The Jamaican Rugby League team arrive in Ireland tomorrow (Saturday) ahead of their international rugby league match in Bray on Sunday 16thOctober at 3pm against an Irish team buoyed by recent wins over Italy and Malta.
It will be the first time the teams have met at this level and the Jamaica team, made up entirely of professional players, will present the sternest test that the wholly domestic based squad of Irish amateurs will have faced this year.
Ireland are set to rest some of their leading players who have been selected for the World Cup qualifying matches against Spain and Russia later this month, including domestic captain Casey Dunne. Eight domestic players were named in the full squad for the qualifiers earlier this week and domestic coach Carl de Chenu will be looking for his fringe players to step up against the Reggae Warriors of Jamaica.
Ireland will be captained by rugby league veteran Wayne Kerr, who will be retiring after the game from international rugby. Part of the 2008 World Cup squad, Kerr previously played for the London Skolars and Carlow Crusaders. He played a big role in Ireland’s 56-10 win over Malta at The Carlisle Grounds last weekend.
Jamaica will have their captain’s run at The Carlisle Grounds in Bray tomorrow evening at 4.30pm, with Ireland’s coming afterwards at 6pm. This will be followed by the teams having a walkabout in Bray. It promises to be a colourful affair for the Wicklow town.
Carl De Chenu said: “We're expecting Jamaica to be a serious step up in class from any team we've faced before. Our boys are relishing the opportunity to test themselves against a squad of entirely professional players plying their trade in the UK. We've been steadily improving as a team and this will be a true test of how much we've developed.
"We'll make a few changes to the team as some of the lads will be involved in next week’s World Cup qualifier against Spain and need a rest. Senior International and Captain Casey Dunne will be one of those lads so we'll give him a week off. Wayne Kerr who has been a true legend of Irish Rugby League will take over as captain for his last ever International. Wayne plans to retire and join the coaching staff of our Student team to pass on his wisdom to the next generation of Irish stars"
Ireland squad to face Jamaica (kick-off 3pm): Rob Armstrong (Cork Bulls), Adam Boyce (Belfast Met Scholars), Sam Boyd (Belfast Met Scholars), Onisi Burekama (Ballynahinch Rabbitohs), Matt Cahoon (Belfast Met Scholars), Adam Doherty (Portadown Pumas), Gareth Gill (Ballynahinch Rabbitohs), Chris Hall (Belfast Met Scholars), Jordan Hylton (Selected through domestic trials) & (Cardiff MetropolitanUniversity), Paddy James (Ballynahinch Rabbitohs), Shane Kelly (Longhorns RL),James Kelly (Dublin City Exiles), Wayne Kerr CAPTAIN (Longhorns RL), Conor Mackey (Galway Tribesmen), Matt McKelvey (Belfast Met Scholars), Alan McMahon (Galway Tribesmen), Connor Phillips (Ballynahinch Rabbitohs), John Purdy (Portadown Pumas), Mikey Russell (Dublin City Exiles).
Jamaica squad
1. Gregory Johnson 2. Richard Barnett 3. Joseph Brown 4. Wayne Reittie 5. Alexander Brown 6. Daniel Thomas 7. Jy-mel Arron Coleman 8. Zach Braham 9. Joel Farrell 10. Jordan Philip Andrade 11. Baasit Agoro 12. Aaron Jones-Bishop 13. Corey Hanson
14. Jode Sheriffe 15. Ross Peltier 16. Keenen Tomlinson 17. Kadeem Williams 18. Reece Williams 19. Joshua Hill 20. Glenn Adam Morrison: Manager 21. Jermaine Coleman
