World Cup 2017 pool games for Wales and Ireland confirmed
Sunday 30 October 2016 09:43, UK
Wales and Ireland will play matches in Port Moresby, Townsville and Perth in the 2017 World Cup, organisers have confirmed.
The pair ensured a full house of home nations at the tournament jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand - joining seeds England and Scotland - after completing their European qualifying campaign with wins over Italy and Russia respectively on Saturday.
St Helens centre Ben Morris scored two tries as John Kear's Wales came from 14-10 down at half-time to triumph 20-14 in Monza, while Mark Aston's Ireland ran in 13 tries in a record 70-16 win over Russia in Bray that secured a fourth successive World Cup for the Wolfhounds.
They will play each other in the final match in pool C in Perth on November 12 as a curtain-raiser to England's group game against France, after earlier playing Papua New Guinea and Fiji.
World Cup chief executive Andrew Hill said: "I'd like to congratulate both Ireland and Wales on qualifying for next year's Rugby League World Cup.
"With large expat communities in Australia, we know these two teams will receive strong support and win over a legion of new fans during their respective campaigns."
The 14th and last place at the World Cup will be filled on Friday when Italy, captained by former Hull KR skipper Terry Campese, take on Russia in the final qualifying play-off at Leigh Sports Village.
Wales' pool matches:
October 28 - Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
November 5 - Fiji, Townsville Stadium
November 12 - Ireland, Perth Rectangular Stadium
Ireland's pool matches:
October 29 - Italy or Russia, Barlow Park, Cairns
November 5 - Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby
November 12 - Wales, Perth Rectangular Stadium
