Joel Farrell looks ahead to RLWC 2021 with Jamaica

02/01/2021

It’s an exciting time for Joel Farrell, a Jamaican international, as the Rugby League World Cup is just one year away.

Having helped the Reggae Warriors on to the biggest stage with a playoff win over USA, Farrell will be going up against some of the world’s best.

“I am looking forward to getting back into rugby altogether but I am looking forward to the World Cup as it’s given us a light at the end of the tunnel.

“Playing for Jamaica gives me pride more than anything. I’m playing with my mates, who are like family to me, and we try our best for each other.

“We want to go out there and show that we’re not a knock-off bobsleigh team and that we can play rugby!”

Jamaica got a taste of high-level action when they faced England Knights at Headingley last year, losing 38-6.

Talking about the experience, both in the lead-up and on the day, Farrell said: “It was class for us,”

“We didn’t know what to expect as we were in a camp for a week, which is something we’ve never done before - we only usually train on an evening.

“On the day, everyone was buzzing and they gave some of the boys from the island a game too. I don’t think they expected it to be as fast as it was.

“With 8,000 people there, we expected there to be a lot of support for England but through the game I saw a lot of Jamaican flags and could hear the steel pans.

“The community came together for a massive showing for us.”

We couldn’t speak about Jamaica and the World Cup without mentioning one thing; the clash with the Kiwis.

In what will be a standout fixture for the Jamaicans, Farrell has a few aims in those 80-minutes: “I want to go out there and run as hard as I can, and whack as many as I can,”

“We’re all ready to go. We’re not intimidated by anyone and no matter who we play, we’ll get stuck in.”

By Dan Fowler