McAllister ready to move from Irish RU to League 1

Ireland international Clarke McAllister, currently playing rugby union in Ulster with Banbridge RFC, could be about to begin a professional rugby league career in England.

McAllister began his rugby league career with Portadown RFC as a way of keeping fit during the union off-season, but received a call-up to the domestic Ireland squad for its internationals in 2015.

He is part of Mark Aston’s senior squad for the European Championship, which Ireland conclude this weekend when they play France in Bray.

He could now embark on a professional career in England, but it is still not certain for which club he will play.

“I’m planning on going over to England for the next rugby league season, but I don’t know which club I’ll be going to yet,” McAllister told local Ulster paper The Leader.

“I’ve been talking to a few teams at League One level (the third tier of English rugby league) but I have to speak to people this weekend and take things from there.

“The first league game is around the end of February but I think it’s quite a long pre-season so I’ll have to go over before then.”