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Since Ireland began competing in international Rugby League in 1995, it has participated in the Emerging Nations Tournament (1995), Super League World Nines (1996), World Cup (2000), European Nations Cup (since 2003) and Victory Cup (2004). The Ireland A Wolfhounds compete annually in the Amateur Four Nations competition (since 2002) and the St Patrick's Day Challenge (1995-2004). Phil Coles, a former Newcastle Knights colt and John Sharpe , a Rugby Union convert, are examples of amateur players to have competed in all of these competitions for Ireland. Irish players have also been selected to play for the Great Britain Side , one recent example being Cork -born Brian Carney . WORLD CUP 2008 ''See also 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifying '' Ireland will face Lebanon and Russia in Europe Pool Two with the winner of the pool qualifying for the World Cup and the Runner Up entering the Repechage round. HISTORY Ireland formed its very first competitive team to play against the USA in Washington on St. Patrick's Day in 1995. Ireland won 24-22 with Wigan legend Joe Lydon coming on as a replacement. He had gone to the US as a manager but was drafted in to play. Terry Flanagan, Huddersfield coach and former Great Britain player, along with 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. The Irish team that day included former Great Britain player Des Foy . These two victories ensured that Ireland were included in the Emerging Nations World Cup in the Autumn of 1995. Coached again 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 travelled to Fiji to participate in the Inaugural Super League World Nines. Ireland managed to finish 8th out of 16 nations. During the tournament Ireland played Japan , France , New Zealand, Samoa and Tonga . Following discussions between (Capt.), Ricky Stuart , Andrew Ettinghausen , Brett Mullins , Wendell Sailor , Jason Hetherington , Simon Gillies , Robbie Beckett , Mark Geyer and Steve Renouf . In 1996 a second St. Patrick's Day match was played against the USA. Try scorers that day were Tom McCabe and Des Foy . Phelim Comerford kicked 3 goals to ensure another 2 point victory by 14-12. In August 1996 the Ireland team lined out against Scotland and were beaten 26-6. Both teams fielded a few professionals: Scotland included Alan Tait , Matt Crowther, Danny Russell and Darren Shaw. The Ireland team included Martin Crompton, James Lowes and Bernard Dwyer. The rest of the Irish team was made up of a few professionals from the lower divisions in England, a couple of ex-professionals, a few amateurs from the English amateur leagues and players from the fledgling Irish domestic competition. 1997 saw more England-based Super League players making themselves available by use of the grandparent rule. The Irish team improved its standards but this development gave less opportunity for Irish-based players to get a chance to play. However, Irish-based players were included in the Irish squad for the triangular tournaments in 1998 against France and Scotland and 1999 against Scotland and Wales. Their success was enough to earn a place in the 2000 World Cup. Finishing top of their group, the Irish eventually lost 26-16 to England in the quarter-finals, but the performance set the scene for future developments in Ireland. SQUAD Players with recent cap Possible Call-Ups 2007 POSSIBLE RUN ON TEAM
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