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Wolfhounds To Return To Irish
Rugby
The Ireland Wolfhounds was initially the brainchild of Irish rugby
legends Karl Mullen and Jack Kyle.
Created in 1956 as an invitational side to spread the rugby gospel among
the towns and villages of Ireland, over the years Irish internationals
such as Brendan Mullin, Willie John McBride and Sir Anthony O'Reilly all
represented the Wolfhounds in their distinctive green and white hooped
jerseys.
The Wolfhounds played games all over Ireland and provincial towns such
as Athlone, Westport and Waterford have all entertained the nomadic
Wolfhounds team who, like the Barbarians, had no home ground of their
own.
The final recorded appearance of the Irish Wolfhounds was in 1987 when
they played against Greystones at Dr. Hickey Park to celebrate the
club's golden Jubilee.
The Ireland Wolfhounds was selected as the new name for the Ireland
'A' team following a competition among members of the Irish Rugby
Supporters Club.
Conor Smyth, from Carrickmines in Dublin was the lucky supporter who
suggested the use of the Wolfhounds identity, linking the past and
future of Irish rugby.
The debut of the Ireland Wolfhounds' name will be next Friday (February
5) at Ravenhill when they will play Scotland 'A' under floodlights
(kick-off 7.30pm).
Tickets for that game are available from www.UlsterRugby.com, the
Ravenhill Ticket Office (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5pm), the Ticket Hotline 028 90
493 222 Option 2 (Mon-Fri, 10am to 12pm) and SS Moores (6 Chichester
Street, Belfast, 028 90 322966).
Before the home clash with Scotland 'A', the final appearance of the
Ireland 'A' team under that identity is this coming Sunday against
England Saxons at the Recreation Ground in Bath (kick-off 2pm, live Sky
Sports 2). The final team has been named from the initial 22-man squad
selected on Tuesday.
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