Scots set out on new adventure

Shaun McRae celebrates as manager of St Helens

Scotland has launched its first rugby league World Cup campaign, with officials rejecting fears of the eligibility problems which have recently blighted the union code.

Head coach Shaun McRae's squad is almost certain not to include any players born within the country's boundaries.

But in the wake of the recent David Hilton scandal which affected the nation's rugby union scene, he insisted no-one would evade the safety net.

David Hilton: Eligibility row

McRae's group to feature in the tournament, starting in October, will consist of players from Australia, New Zealand and England who have bloodline links going back two generations.

At the launch at Hearts' Tynecastle Stadium, he admitted: "Far more players than we expected have approached us expressing a desire to play for Scotland in the World Cup, especially from the southern hemisphere.

"I am delighted to hear from any of them, but it is then up to them to prove that they qualify for us."

SRU criticised

McRae added that he would not consider anyone until they produced a birth certificate of the relative they say is Scots-born, or another relevant legal document.

The coach spoke out just two weeks after 41 times-capped Scotland rugby union prop Hilton was sidelined from the international scene after it was discovered his grandfather was born in Bristol and not Edinburgh, as he had believed.

In addition, the Scottish Rugby Union were criticised by the International Board for failing to make proper checks on his background.

Scotland will play two of their group matches on home turf, against New Zealand Maoris at Partick Thistle's Firhill Stadium on 29 October and against Samoa at Tynecastle seven days later.

Derby match

In between is the derby with Ireland at Dublin's Tolka Park.

Following a series of low crowds at last year's rugby union World Cup, tickets will be available at "family friendly" prices for a limited period.

A tournament spokesman said: "We have taken on board what happened during the rugby union World Cup, especially in Scotland, and we have pitched the prices at family-friendly rates.

"Rugby league is a community sport and we want the communities of Edinburgh and Glasgow to have ownership of the games in their areas in the hope of creating an ongoing platorm of interest in the sport.

"We want to make sure that our World Cup is not regarded as an exclusive event."