Written by Stuart McLennan

Ireland International and Bradford Bulls recruit Ronan Michael says having a Super League club based in Dublin is essential if the game wants to expand in the northern hemisphere.

“Expansion is everything and I want to see it happen,” Michael told the Everything Rugby League Podcast from his family home in Balbriggan, Ireland where he is having a well earned break after a man of the match performance in the 36-6 victory of Scotland recently.

“You can’t keep the game in that pocket of England and expect it to grow. The garden is only so big. The reason that rugby union is so successful is because it’s going everywhere. I’ll die on the hill that it’s much easier to explain to bunch of people how rugby league works than it is how rugby union works,” said Michael, who took up rugby league after being locked out of rugby union due to a transfer issue and was immediately selected in the Ireland Under 17s side.

When I started playing there might have been four people in Balbriggan who had seen a bit of Bradford vs Leeds in the heyday. But no one really knew what rugby league was. I went back to my school two days ago during the week and I took a rugby union session because that’s still what they play in school but there were lads rocking up in Rugby League Ireland jerseys.

“Obviously the NRL is doing a better job than the English Rugby League are of growing it but it’s still like these two areas and we need to grow outwards. I think a Dublin team is one of the main things. I mean I am biased towards a Dublin team.”

Everything Rugby League Podcast co-host Keith Whitelock shared Michael’s view on the prospect of a Super League club in Ireland’s capital city.

“I’m not biased and I agree. I would love to see a Dublin team there. It all comes down to finances, of course, but if we can see the NRL get to Papua New Guinea and Perth and a second New Zealand team and play games in Vegas. It just goes to show where there’s a will, there’s a way. So hopefully we do see Dublin before 2030, so to speak and then we see Ireland showing up in the 2030 Men’s World Cup,” Whitelock said.

The Irish prop forward is gutted his beloved nation will not appear in the 2026 World Cup due to Ireland being ‘reclassified’ along with Scotland, Italy and Lebanon but would like to see the men in green increase the number of international matches they play.

“It’s the best time of the year (the international window) and I just love it. I want to play more international matches. I want my teammates to play more international matches. It’s a different type of connection. It’s deeper than just playing. It’s that fact that the lads are potentially giving up work, giving up their off seasons with their families to come and share the moment with you.

“I think we play too many games at club level. Imagine an Ireland, England, Scotland, Wales double header at Headingley, or St Helens or Old Trafford. That’s going to be a sellout. It’s as good as it gets if it’s done right. We need more fixtures because it’s the pinnacle.”

Ronan covers much more on the Everything Rugby League Podcast where he tells us about his Super League Debut, his time at York Knights, why he is a star on his club’s social media, his sideline personal training business and his short stint with the Canberra Raiders.

He will team up with Canberra product Mitchel Souter at Bradford Bulls next season. They first met when Michael stayed at Souter’s family home in Australia’s capital in 2020.

“That’s the rugby league circle you know. It’s swings and roundabouts. It’s funny that we lived together and now we’re back playing together.”

Episode also available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.