SCOTLAND TO TAKE ON IRELAND IN WHEELCHAIR INTERNATIONAL

As initial preparation for having been named as the seventh and eighth sides to compete in the 2026 Wheelchair Rugby League World Cup in Australia, Scotland will take on Ireland at the Oriam Performance Centre, Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh on Saturday 18 October (kick off 1pm), in a senior international for world ranking points.

Scotland Wheelchair head coach, Martyn Gill, commented: “We are excited to be hosting Ireland. It’s great for both nations to extend their playing pathway and we could see up to five players make their debuts for us. This is a fantastic opportunity to go up against a strong Ireland outfit and provides the perfect test as we start our preparations for the World Cup.”

It will be the second meeting between the nations in 2025, having clashed in May at the annual Wheelchair Celtic Cup in Cardiff, Scotland going down 92-20, but with several players in the squad having a first season’s experience with Edinburgh Giants in the Wheelchair Super League, the hosts will be looking for an improved performance.

To allow both sides to give their extended talent pools exposure to the international arena, Scotland ‘A’ will face Ireland ‘A’ beforehand in a double-header (kick off 11am).

“These fixtures allows us to give five debutants a chance to evidence how they have progressed this year,” said Ireland Wheelchair head coach Phil Roberts. “The games represent an occasion for our more experienced players to implement what they have worked so hard to embed into their play this year, and everybody involved is competing for a shirt in next year's Celtic Cup squad and ultimately the World Cup beyond that.”

The match will be sponsored by Genista Energy, Scotland’s new principal partner for their wheelchair programme. Tickets can be purchased online here for £6, with U16s admitted free.

Picture credit: Pat Shanahan Photography