October 19: Ireland vs Netherlands, Navan Rugby Club, Navan, kickoff 5pm
Watch Live (subscription)Competing at Level 2 with promotion to the top flight the target for Ireland, the Netherlands and Turkey, whose campaign begins this Saturday, October 19.
Ireland have been preparing for the upcoming Euros at the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown and their ranks include an influx of players from the nation’s U19 team that recently played against Great Britain at the Global Ireland Football Tournament (GIFT) as part of the annual Aer Lingus College Football Classic played annually in Dublin.
“The growth in the Wolfhounds player group is reflective of the growth of the game here in Ireland,” explains head coach Ciaran O’Sullivan. “American Football Ireland’s partnership with the NFL Steelers, Jaguars and Jets has boosted the youth game here. The senior Wolfhounds are benefiting from this growth as we welcome players who have graduated from our youth team. This injection of youth changes the dynamic in the team as it drives improvement and competition for places.
“All of the players, coaches and support staff are firmly behind our philosophy of growing the team and everyone is working together to improve on and off the field. The mix of youth and experience working like this results in a very exciting brand of football.”
The Dutch Lions are among the early pioneers of American football in Europe and claimed the bronze medal at the 1991 Euros, beating France 17-12. The Netherlands return to the international stage for the first time since 2016.
