Young Bulls duo Jamie Gill and Conlan Mawson are making their first steps on the international stage with the Ireland Under-19s.
They have just taken part in the Tony Dale Cup, which saw Ireland take on their Welsh counterparts in a three-match series.
Both sides won their games on home soil, so the Irish arranged a decider at Featherstone Rovers’ Post Office Road ground last weekend.
Gill and Mawson both started in the forward pack for Ireland on Sunday, and their side went 4-0 in front after only two minutes through Tom Ashurst.
In a back-and-forth contest, two tries by Adam Quinn had Ireland level at 12-12 just before the hour mark.
But Wales finished strongly and crossed the whitewash twice late on to claim a 22-12 victory, taking home the Tony Dale Cup as a result.
It was the first staging of the event, named in honour of Tony Dale, who died earlier this year having done so much to help rugby league grow in Ireland during his lifetime.
For Gill and Mawson, their focus now returns to pre-season with Bulls.
The former, a prop, is set to be pushing for some first-team minutes this year, wile the latter, a back-rower, will spend 2025 with the reserves’ squad.
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