Longhorns set to make rugby league history
Longhorns RL, a rugby league club based in Ashbourne will make history today when they take to the pitch in the Coral Challenge Cup for the third year in a row: something that has never been done by an Irish side in rugby league history.
Longhorns take on Normanton Knights from Wakefield in an English venue in this historic encounter. The Longhorns also look to be the first Irish team in history to make it past round one of the Challenge Cup.
Originally residing in Athboy, then Navan, the Longhorns have found a permanent home in Ashbourne. The Longhorns play in the southern conference of the Irish League and are the 2017, 2018 and 2019 All-Ireland Champions.
The club have enlisted former rugby league professionals in Wayne Kerr (Oldham RLFC), Graham O’Keefe (All Golds) and Matthew Hadden (Oxford RL). Longhorns RL made history in 2019 winning three All-Ireland Championships in a row.
The Longhorns boast players Matthew Coade, and James Mulvaney who aided the Irish side in the World Cup qualifiers in the autumn. Head of Rugby League Ireland (RLI) Domestic Performance, Casey Dunne, who also played for Ashbourne RFC is optimistic the Longhorns can make an impact.
“This is without doubt the best Irish club side we have ever had in the Challenge Cup. Given what I have seen with the skill level, the positivity among the squad and team management, no excuses will be made if they do not deliver against Normanton Knights on the 11th of January. Normanton Knights have been a great side over the past number of years, so they are deservedly the favourites.
"We can see a good balance in youth and experience in the Challenge Cup squad this year. We were delighted to see two Longhorns players, James Mulvaney and Matt Coade play with Ireland this past Autumn.
"I have been part of their rugby league journeys and to see them start with no idea of what is going rule wise to representing Ireland fills me with joy, they are still very new to the game, but their their skill and dedication to improvement have been immense which resulted in their just rewarded caps."