Sheffield Head Coach Has Ambitious Aims For Ireland Rugby League
- Jack Ireland
- Nov 3, 2017
- 2 min read
The minnow nation of Ireland can make headway in the world of rugby league in the current World Cup, according to Sheffield Eagles Head Coach Mark Aston.
The Wolfhounds are currently taking part in their fourth World Cup tournament, having featured in 2000, 2008 and 2013, and are heavy favourites to be knocked out in the group stages. But a shock victory of Italy in match one has created a buzz around the rugby league community, even the one in Sheffield.
Mark Aston, Head Coach of the Sheffield Eagles and currently the man at the helm of Ireland RL, believes the Irish are on course to make history for the small nation. Having previously come rock bottom in the 2013 World Cup, Aston believes the result against Italy,
“I thought we were outstanding last week & it wasn’t a surprise to us that we beat the Italians as we had a plan and we executed it to perfection. “The team set out its goal to get to at least the quarter finals as we believe it’s achievable.”
The Irish are among the 500-1 rank outsiders but Aston is confident they can make their mark in their group games Papua New Guinea and Wales, having already put Italy to the sword: “Leading the Ireland team for the last 6 years has been so much fun and so enjoyable just seeing the group develop as a team and the introduction of so many young players mean that the future is very bright for Ireland”.
Aston, a former Great Britain representative, will be hoping his Irish team can come home from the World Cup with their heads held high:
"Nobody is going to get rich playing for Ireland. They know that from minute one. That makes us stronger as a group. They're playing for pride and the passion that we have all put into this."
Many Sheffield Eagles fans will be hoping Aston can work his magic on the South Yorkshire side for the 2018 championship season.
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