Ireland international and Bradford Bulls man Ronan Michael has called for a Super League side in Dublin, Ireland.
Michael was named Man of the Match in his nation’s victory over Scotland recently and has just completed his first season with the Bulls since joining from York City Knights.
Speaking to Everything Rugby League, he talked about what the game needs to grow.
He suggested: “You can’t keep the game in that pocket of England and expect it to grow. The garden is only so big.
“The reason that rugby union is so successful is because it’s going everywhere. I’ll die on the hill that it’s much easier to explain to a bunch of people how rugby league works than it is how rugby union works.
“Obviously the NRL is doing a better job than the English Rugby League are of growing it but it’s still, like, these two areas (England and Australia/Oceania) and we need to grow outwards.
“I think a Dublin team is one of the main things. I mean I am biased towards a Dublin team.”
Currently, Super League is only made up of sides in Northern England and one in the Catalan region of France.
Bradford Bulls man calls for more international rugby league – at the expense of Super League?
Credit: Simon Hall
As well as talking about domestic rugby league, the prop discussed the international game.
He has made seven appearances for Ireland – including at the 2022 World Cup, where he faced New Zealand.
He said: “It’s the best time of the year (the international window) and I just love it.
“I want to play more international matches. I want my teammates to play more international matches. It’s a different type of connection. It’s deeper than just playing.
“It’s that fact that the lads are potentially giving up work, giving up their off-seasons with their families to come and share the moment with you.
“I think we play too many games at club level. Imagine an Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales doubleheader at Headingley, or St Helens or Old Trafford.
“That’s going to be a sellout. It’s as good as it gets if it’s done right. We need more fixtures because it’s the pinnacle.”
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Anonymous
November 22, 2024 at 2:20 pm
True comments but he’s ignoring reality. Dublin City Exiles are miles away from being Super League ready even if they franchised it to death, and every other Irish club is probably further behind. Ireland were downgrade because of their domestic league, they need to grow it organically and not jump into the English system like France did. A home nations championship would be brilliant but there is no way it would sell out Old Trafford, not in th3 slightest.