Australian star to line out for Ireland

Australia test player Chris McKenna is to play for Ireland in Rugby League's European Nations Cup at the end of the season.

Australia test player Chris McKenna is to play for Ireland in Rugby League's European Nations Cup at the end of the season.

The 28-year-old Leeds centre qualifies for Ireland as his grandfather was born in Belfast.

McKenna is one of 21 Super League players called up by new coach Daryl Powell although doubts surround the fitness of Hull's Shayne McMenemy, who was yesterday ruled out for the season with a dislocated elbow.

Widnes winger Paul Devlin is poised to make his rugby league international debut after previously playing for the Irish rugby union under-21s.

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The 31-strong squad, captained by Wigan prop Terry O'Connor, also includes three players from the domestic league in Dave Hancock, of Dublin's East Coast Eagles, and Cork Bulls duo Mark O'Connel and Simon Buckley.

Ireland will play France and Scotland in their pool matches of the European Nations Cup, with England A, Wales and Russia meeting in the other group.

IRELAND:L Finnerty (Halifax), S Prescott (Hull), F Cummins (Leeds), A Stewart (St Helens), C De Chenu (Sheffield), C Halpenny (Wakefield), R Smyth (Warrington), C McKenna (Leeds), M Eagar (Castleford), M Golden (Widnes), T Martyn (Leigh), G Clinch (Salford), C Bridge (Bradford), M Slicker (Huddersfield), T O'Connor (Wigan, capt), P Southern (Rochdale), T Gallagher (Leigh), C Greenhill (Hull), S McMenemy (Hull), T Jonkers (St Helens), M Cassidy (Wigan), D Bradbury (Leigh), C Joynt (St Helens), R Marshall (London), L Doran (Oldham), J Lawless (Halifax), P Handforth (Wakefield), P Devlin (Widnes), D Hancock (East Coast Eagles, Dublin), M O'Connel (Cork Bulls), S Buckley (Cork Bulls).