Matt Peet sets out Wigan Warriors’ Dublin vision with lasting rugby league ‘legacy’ targeted

Wigan Warriors coach Matt Peet has outlined his hopes for rugby league to leave a lasting impact in Ireland after the club’s historic Super League fixture against Warrington Wolves in Dublin was confirmed.

The Warriors and Wolves will meet at the newly redeveloped Laya Arena on Saturday, April 24, 2027, in the first Super League match to be played in Ireland.

Peet is excited by the prospect of taking one of Super League’s biggest fixtures to Dublin, but believes the event should be about more than the 80 minutes on the field.

“Very excited,” Peet said when speaking at the Dublin announcement event in Manchester. “Obviously I’ve known for a few weeks that this was coming together in the background between the two clubs, so to come here today and see this great event, it brings it home about the proposition we’ve got to look forward to.

“I think it works on so many levels, the fact that rugby union in Ireland is huge, obviously there are connections between the North West and Ireland like ancestors and families, and obviously it’s a great place to go and socialise and watch live sport as well, so it makes complete sense, I think.”

Wigan already have a strong connection with Ireland through former Warriors star Andy Farrell, who is currently head coach of the Ireland rugby union team, and Peet wants to involve him in the build-up.

“Yeah, definitely,” Peet continued. “He’s involved in the club anyway, we speak to him and communicate regularly at different levels. He’s always on hand to speak to the coaches, and we try to pick his brain. He came over to Wigan earlier this year with his Ireland staff, so there is already some collaboration there.

“I think it is important that the two clubs, Wigan and Warrington, really aim to make a legacy for rugby league in Ireland, not just one game.

“I think we should be taking festivals of our junior teams to go and play over there. I think we should be getting the kids some taster sessions of rugby league in and around Dublin and throughout Ireland, and making sure that when we leave Dublin, there is still rugby league left there, and more of our kids that we can get over there playing... It’s alright talking about lads who have grown up in England playing for Ireland, but let’s get more people in Ireland playing rugby league.”

Peet wants local children and community clubs to be given the opportunity to experience rugby league around the landmark fixture.

“Yeah, hopefully,” he said. “Whether they continue to play rugby league or not, I think giving them that taste of the game leaves a positive impression on them of us, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and of Super League, so I really think some proposals and plans should be made.

“There are some rugby league festivals taking place up and down England, so let’s put one on over that weekend. The likes of the North West junior teams should be able to go over there, get a friendly on the morning of the Super League game or as a curtain-raiser, and then come over to the game, and I’m sure all the parents would enjoy it as well.”

The Wigan boss believes the sport can do more than simply take a match to a new market and then leave.

“I’m only talking about what I think should happen going forward,” Peet continued. “I don’t know what’s happened in the past, but I think there can be more to it than just taking an 80-minute game.

“I think we should be looking to create experiences for our young players to go over there and make a weekend of it to show Dublin not just Super League, but community rugby league as well and our supporters and our media, and leave a real positive impression for the whole weekend.

“I think a great way to do that is to get some junior teams booked onto flights, the two clubs support it, provide them with balls and referees and encourage the Irish community clubs that are already over there, but I think something really special can be done between the towns of Wigan and Warrington especially.”

Peet acknowledged that building a sustainable rugby league presence in Ireland would require more than a one-off event.

“It’s quite complex to break new ground,” the 42-year-old said. “I think there’s taking the game over there, but I think to genuinely break ground, it’s got to be development officers on the ground, community coaches, it’s not a quick thing, so I wouldn’t say it’s been overlooked (in the past), I just think we know how hard it is to do it and sustain it.

“It’s a big intake of investment from the RFL and Super League, and there’s no doubt I think it could be done, as it could be done in London and areas like this, but it’s got to be built, not just from the top down, but from the grassroots up as well.”

The Dublin fixture will come just a week before Magic Weekend at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, but Peet believes being involved with such events so close together is just part and parcel of being a leading sporting organisation.

“I just see that as being part of an elite organisation,” Peet said. “If you look at international sport, the World Cup that was on recently, the rugby union international championships, the NFL, the European Cup in rugby union, Champions League football... You travel, and you perform, so of course there’s challenges, but you’ve got to look after the players when the time is right, but travelling over to Ireland and back to Everton… You know, it’s not transatlantic, is it?”

Wigan have previously performed strongly in major events such as Las Vegas and Paris, and Peet expects that trend to continue in Dublin.

“I’m confident that big events bring the best out of our players, which is a credit to them really,” he added.

“They love to play in big games and big events in front of noisy crowds, so I feel a lot more comfortable watching my team in events like this, like Magic Weekend, Paris… I think it keeps players on their toes, energises them, and I think you’ll see the best of Wigan and Warrington over in Dublin next year.”