St Helens RLFC to play here in January

v-deniso

Following on from the success of Bradfords visit for a match in Stradbrook (Blackrock College RFC) last January, St Helens have just announced that they will be coming over in the New Year for match against London Skolars...

Irish Rugby League are delighted to announce that leading engage Super League side St Helens will be playing a pre-season friendly against London Skolars in Dublin next January.
This news follows on from Ireland’s excellent victory over Scotland earlier this week in the European Nations Cup.

Irish Rugby League fans will already be familiar with the Skolars, who play in National League 2, as they defeated Bradford Bulls at Blackrock RFC at the start of 2005.

“To play a Super League club for the second year running over in Dublin is great for the game in Ireland”, London Skolars’ chairman Hector McNeil enthused. “Having been living over here for three years, there’s been a tremendous upsurge in interest in the game and I’m sure the visit of St Helens will help progress things even further.”

Saints Chief Executive Sean McGuire is also excited by the opportunity. “Rugby league is a fantastic sport to watch live and this is a great opportunity for sports fans in Ireland to see that for themselves.

“With the match taking place just a couple of weeks before the start of the new Super League season, it will be a chance for a number of our squad to stake a claim for a starting place in 2006.”

RLI Chairman Dave Southern commented "The opportunity for the public of Ireland to witness top quality Rugby League teams in the form of St Helens and London Skolars is a massive boost for the game in Ireland. We would like to think that the Dublin Challenge is now an annual event!"

The game will take place on the weekend of 21/22 January with the venue in Dublin to be confirmed.

carlnz

wow, lets hope the fans turn out in force for the match. How many people turned up for this match last year?

bullrunner

was at the game last year...not too many fans turned up...maybe a couple of hundred....including me with my free ticket!!:D

Only disappointment was that Bradford didnt bring anything like a full team..and were beaten as a result (by skolars who finished last in div 2)

if St Helens bring a strong squad then maybe there will be a bigger turnout than last year...but i reckon it will still be a small turnout

c'mon da hector !!

bah! they could of got a decent team over instead of those stains W**kers. Like Wigan for example

v-deniso

True enough but I think they want to try and phase things in gradually, as you probably remember when Wigan were over previously for the charity shield not that many showed up.

Give it time and no doubt this Dublin challenge will get bigger and better.

Trojan

Where will the match be played? Stradbrook again? It's down on their fixtures page as Sun 22nd Jan, 2.30pm in Leinster, Dublin

v-deniso

As far as my sources back at Knowsley Road are aware this game is set to go ahead in Donnybrook this year rather than Stradbrook.

Hope that means a bigger crowd...It all depends on what type of promotion it gets over here.

Last year I only found out about 2 or 3 days before and just chanced my arm driving by.

C'mon you Saints!

Maccattack

Its on in Donnybrook for defo.

St Helens are reported to be bringing a full strenght side as well as a heap of supporters.

Should be great.

mchurl

Maccattack wrote:

Its on in Donnybrook for defo.

St Helens are reported to be bringing a full strenght side as well as a heap of supporters.

Should be great.

should be good then if this true

Paul Tergat

Deleted User wrote:

bah! they could of got a decent team over instead of those stains W**kers. Like Wigan for example

I Think you mean a decent team like Bradford. As a Bradford lad it would be nice to see them over again...Championes!!!

BigDragon

p_larkin99 wrote:

I Think you mean a decent team like Bradford. As a Bradford lad it would be nice to see them over again...Championes!!!

Thats all I need - more fecking bullers to moderate

Welcome to boards m8.

As with the Ireland v Wales game Im going to out of the country for this. This is starting to be come a habit that is annoying me. :rolleyes: :mad:

The_Gaffer

what advertising has been put inplace for the up coming match in donnybrook? I haven't seen or heard anything except for the poster that was emailed around. Looks like it will be another bad show of Irish Supporters unless the RLI get their thumb out and the word out. TV, Radio, News Papers? Have I missed it if so let me know.

Danger_Dave

it will be in Donnybrook, So i get paid to go see St Helens.happy days

Maccattack

So who's going to this? Ive seen posters all around the area and apparantly Newstalk are advertising it...

v-deniso

I will be there with my family and our array of replica Saints Jearsy's from the past 13 or so seasons.

C'mon you Saints!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amz

The Leinster branch of the IRFU have been advertising it quite a bit too. They had details in their newsletter etc. Good to see them supporting it.

Amz

Shall definitely be heading along to this (provided I get my essay finished on time). Looking forward to it muchly.

I know you can pay at the gate, but are the tickets being sold anywhere in town, or would you need to bother?

RuggieBear

Is this not been played at the same time as Leinster will be playing Bath on Skysports?:(

Amz

2:30 on Sunday?

Poop ...

That'll affect turnout I'd say.

RuggieBear

Amz wrote:

2:30 on Sunday?

Poop ...

That'll affect turnout I'd say.

I'd love to go to this but i'll have to watch the Leinster game. Who decided on the bloody time and why has nobody realised it would be clashing

Amz

Strange that they'd promote it in the e-Newsletter without mentioning it/noticing it.

I kinda promised I'd go along to this, so looks like I'll be missing the Leinster game, although I can always listen on me radio.

RuggieBear

Amz wrote:

Strange that they'd promote it in the e-Newsletter without mentioning it/noticing it.

I kinda promised I'd go along to this, so looks like I'll be missing the Leinster game, although I can always listen on me radio.

That sucks but at least it should be a good game to watch at donnybrook.

Amz

Yeah.

Feck, I completely mixed up dates for the Leinster game. (Me = Dumbass)

RuggieBear

Amz wrote:

Yeah.

Feck, I completely mixed up dates for the Leinster game. (Me = Dumbass)

Bugger it anyway. I really wanted to go to this.

Amz

You on for pints in town afterwards though?


(Priorities and all that)

RuggieBear

Amz wrote:

You on for pints in town afterwards though?


(Priorities and all that)

I'm working at seven...:( :eek:

Amz

Ah pity

An udder time.

RuggieBear

Amz wrote:

Ah pity

An udder time.

hope so.

Maccattack

It looks like Leinster are advertising this game on their website now.