Ireland's crucial World Cup qualifying match against Lebanon next month will be staged at Dewsbury.

The sides fought out an 18-18 draw in Dublin last November and were due to play the return game in Lebanon but, because of the unstable situation in the country, a neutral venue has been chosen.

The news will delight Ireland head coach Andy Kelly, who is the coach of National League club Dewsbury.

Two two teams are level on points and, although they have both to play Russia one more time, their clash at Dewsbury on Friday, November 2, is likely to determine who goes through from Pool A.

The venues for all the remaining qualifying matches have been decided and the crucial one in Pool B will be held at Glasgow Hawks’ ground on Sunday, November 4, when Wales will look to overturn a seven-point deficit to Scotland from the first leg.

The losers will have another chance to qualify through the repechage, which already includes Samoa and the United States. The repechage final will be held at Featherstone on Wednesday, November 14.


Fiji and Tonga have already qualified and join automatic entrants Australia, England, New Zealand, France and Papua New Guinea in the draw.


Meanwhile, Canberra and Wollongong are the latest World Cup venues to be unveiled.


Canberra Stadium will host the opening Group B match between France and Scotland or Wales on Sunday, October 26.


It is one of two early games that will precede the official opening ceremony in Sydney later that evening.


The second Group B match, between France and Fiji, will be held at WIN Stadium in Wollongong on Saturday, November 1.


The 13th World Cup will be played from Saturday, October 25, to Saturday, November 28, taking in three states and the ACT and 12 venues.


England kick off their Group A campaign against Papua New Guinea in Townsville on October 25.


The final will be played at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.


Qualifying matches:


Saturday, October 20: Pool A – Ireland v Russia (Carlow, 4pm).


Saturday, October 28: Pool A – Russia v Lebanon (Nara Stadium, Narofominsk, 3pm). Friday, November 2: Pool A – Lebanon v Ireland (Dewsbury, 7.30pm).


Sunday November 4: Pool B – Scotland v Wales (Glasgow Hawks RFC, 2pm).


Friday, November 9: Repechage semi-finals – USA v Samoa; Pool 1 runner-up v Pool 2 runner-up (Halton Stadium, Widnes, 5

This article was posted on 3-Oct-2007, 21:24 by Hugh Barrow.