Rosemount's Kelly aiming for place at Women's Rugby League World Cup

Rosemount's Emma Kelly has been named in the Ireland squad which will compete at the Women’s Rugby League World Series in Toronto this month.

Victory in the World Series would see the Irish women gain the final berth in the 2026 IRL Women’s Rugby League World Cup, to be played in Australia and Papua New Guinea next autumn.

The former Moate Community School student, who has also represented Leinster in the rugby union code, is relatively new to the sport taking part in her inaugural rugby league camp with the national team in September 2024 following an invitation from head coach Matty Kennerson.

While the core skills of both games are similar, Emma plays in the Number 6 role, essentially in the five-eighth or stand-off position, one of the two half backs on the team.

Emma played a pivotal role in Ireland's final warm-up fixture ahead of the World Series, a 42-6 defeat of Holland in Amsterdam.

Ireland, the highest ranked nation competing at the World Series, will play Nigeria on Tuesday, October 21, for the right to meet either Canada or Fiji in the deciding fixture, the winning nation advancing to the World Cup finals in 2026.