Four newcomers, Bradley Ho, Kieran Rush, AJ Wallace, and Alex Young – are included in Jamaica’s 24-man squad, as the Reggae Warriors prepare to make their debut in the Rugby League World Cup.
Fourteen of those selected were part of the squad that qualified for the tournament when winning the 2018 Americas Championship, Jamaica thereby becoming the first-ever Caribbean nation to be included in the competition proper.
Head coach Romeo Monteith said the team will put their best foot forward.
Six players from the domestic game are included, five are from Duhaney Park Red Sharks who recently won the National Club Championship Grand Final for the eighth time in 16 seasons, along with former Excelsior Community College speedster Abevia McDonald, who now plays at London Skolars.
Monteith, said he is happy that six local based players were able to make the squad.
The Reggae Warriors are drawn in Group C and will face Ireland on October 16, 2008 World Cup winners New Zealand on October 22 and Lebanon on October 30.
Two teams from each group will not only advance to the quarter finals but will also book their ticket to the 2025 Rugby League World Cup to be staged in France.
The local contingent will depart the island on Saturday October 1.
One of the captains of the Jamaica national Rugby team, Marvin Thompson, says playing at the World Cup will be their greatest challenge yet.
Jamaica will make their debut in the Rugby League World Cup in England October 15 to November 19.
Thompson is one of 24 players named for the tournament.
He said the players will not just participate, but they will be there to compete.
Thompson says the squad is littered with the best players the country has to offer.
A number of players who ply their trade in the UK have been named in the squad and that should strength Jamaica’s chances of advancing to the next stage according to Thompson.
Marvin Thompson, captain of the Jamaica Rugby League team.
