Hope nets Ireland call

OLDHAM player Will Hope is in a 21-man Ireland squad for the 2015 European Championships, which start this weekend.

The former Salford back-row man is in France with Mark Aston’s Ireland squad for tomorrow’s game against the French. They then play Scotland in Galasheils and finish off with Wales in Bray on Saturday, November 7.

Oliver Roberts, the young Huddersfield player who turned out seven times for Roughyeds on dual-reg, is also in the Irish squad.

Kingstone Press Championship fixtures for 2016 will be released by the RFL on Monday morning.

Newly-promoted Oldham go up against Bradford Bulls, Leigh Centurions, Sheffield Eagles, Halifax, Featherstone Rovers, Batley Bulldogs, Dewsbury Rams, Swinton Lions, Workington Town, Whitehaven and London Broncos.