In honour of his dying grandma, Harry Rushton admits debuting for Ireland was one of his proudest moments.
Huddersfield Giants’ new signing impressed off the bench in the 48-2 rout of Jamaica and hopes to send his nation into the World Cup quarter-finals with victory over Lebanon tomorrow. Like many in the Wolfhounds ranks, the big second-row - who was born in Blackpool and has been playing for Canberra Raiders in the NRL - is getting to know plenty about his Irish heritage.
Rushton, 20, told Mirror Sport: “It was great. A real proud moment. I've just come back from Australia so my mum and step-dad have not seen me play in three years and that’s where side my Irish heritage comes from.
"They were really proud. Just standing there with the anthem was great and I was buzzing finally getting on. It was a bit of a blur. I was on for 40 minutes but it felt like five.
“My mum’s mum was born in Belfast. She was adopted and moved to England at a young age. It’s a pretty far link but they’re really proud on that side. Unfortunately, she’s pretty much on her deathbed at the minute in a nursing home. She doesn’t really understand what’s happened but I’d got all my documents sorted last year when the tournament was planned for 2021.
“She was fine then and told me she was really proud. She was surprised she had such an involvement in all of this and obviously she did not see me play much as I was over in Oz. But my mum and aunty are so proud. For my aunty, uncle and cousins, that was the first time watching a rugby league game on TV! Now we’re all looking forward to Lebanon on Sunday.”
Rushton is rooming with York prop Ronan Michael. He said: “Ronan’s pretty much the main Irish guy here so he’s taught me a lot about the history and is always playing Irish songs. All the boys have really knitted together. Some might have come in being unsure as a lot haven't represented their country before but, especially from the last fortnight has made me realise what a privilege it is to play for Ireland and how proud I am.
“I’ve debuted for Wigan and for Canberra but that was as proud as I've ever been making a debut for a team.”
Rushton played once for Wigan in 2020 before taking up a three-year deal in the NRL. He only featured a handful of times for Canberra and has cut short his stay to return home with Huddersfield in 2023. Rushton insisted: “It was great as an experience. Looking back, I probably went over too young but it’s turned me into the person and player I am today. I went over when I’d just turned 19. I was over there for about 18 months but as a person it made me grow and talk to people I’d never have done and get out of my comfort zone.
“Playing-wise, having Brett White - an ex-Origin and Ireland player - and Andrew McFadden as my assistant coaches was just great. They taught me so much and things that English rugby wouldn’t have taught me. That’s what I want to bring to Huddersfield and stick with me for the rest of my career. I don’t want to forget any of that.”
But first it’s tackling Pool C rivals Lebanon who pushed New Zealand close before losing 34-12 last week. Their opponents need to win to have any chance of qualifying so it is a crucial 80 minutes ahead at Leigh Sports Village. And there will be some familiar faces in the Lebanon ranks.
Rushton said: “They’ve got Brandon Morkos who I played quite a bit of reserve grade with at Canberra. He’s a good bloke and one of my best mates. He’s a tough player. It’ll be good to play against him. It will be weird going up against him and some others I know. Especially being in Leigh as well about an hour away from Blackpool where I’m from.
“But it will be weird again next week against New Zealand as Joseph Tapine, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Sebastine Kris are playing and they’re my mates from Canberra. Playing against some big names is something I'm not used to. I’ve only played a few first-team games. But this is a great experience. And it’d be massive to qualify. That's our focus now. All the boys think we can do a job on Sunday.”
