Gavin Cummiskeytalks to the Carlow Crusaders fullback/winger as he prepares with the Ireland squad for the rugby league World Cup

FOR THOSE in the dark on such matters, and that may be a fair number, Ireland kick off their rugby league World Cup campaign against Tonga next Monday in the Sydney suburb of Parramatta. Samoa follow nine days later.

The instinctive response is probably, "Ouch! That's going to leave a mark."

The Ireland squad is speckled with Australian and northern-English professionals of Irish descent. Three Carlow Crusaders supply fully native Irish ingredients to the mix.

Ross Barbour, a product of the Leinster schools system with Wesley College, who came to prominence playing fullback in the All-Ireland League for County Carlow, has made the cross-over into rugby league.

As yet uncapped and the only true amateur in the Irish squad, Barbour spoke to The Irish Times from the Narrabeen training camp about trying to make a name for himself in the less-popular rugby code. Less popular in Ireland anyway.

In Australia, league is king, and that is where he currently resides, surrounded by a squad coached by Andy Kelly that is considered the best group Ireland has ever produced.

Given two veterans from the 2000 World Cup - Barrie McDermott (a one-eyed Leeds legend) and Terry O'Connor (of Widnes fame) - are part of the coaching staff, Barbour is guaranteed to return from Australia a vastly improved league winger. Just in time to slot back into AIL duties as Carlow push for a return to Division Two next season.

"At the moment my background is more union but league is so young in Ireland. If something came up from this I'd take it on. If I got a few offers I'd have a go.

"Stevie Gibbons and another few lads started up the Crusaders team at home. I'm friends with him so that's how I got into playing.

"I played with the A team in Ireland. At the start of the World Cup qualifying each country had to have five home-based players. They decided to scrap that but the Irish management decided to bring three players anyway."

Before leaving Wesley in 2000, Barbour, from Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, played against the likes of current Leinster backrowers Shane Jennings (St Mary's) and Jamie Heaslip (Newbridge) as well as the former De La Salle outhalf Eoghan Hickey, who is currently at London Irish.

Although never making it to representative level, he did establish himself in the Carlow back line these past few seasons.

"I'd be a fullback for my club but I'd say I'm a winger over here. It's a very good standard. I'd like to think I can hold my own. I'm not too far behind them.

"They're all going to be a lot stronger than players I've played against but the fact I've played first division AIL will help. I'm not exactly going in having not played against professionals before.

"I'm not at their level but I'm getting closer thanks to the training I'm doing.

"I watched league a lot when I was younger. I like the fact, as a back, you get more ball and don't have to do all the rucking and dog work of union.

"I suppose, first and foremost, my aim is to impress - to show that while I'm still an amateur I deserve my place and maybe get a run. After that if something comes of it I can take it from there."

Brian Carney and Ian Dowling are two who developed in league before switching back to union. Coincidentally, they have lately been contesting the same wing berth at Munster.

Carney possibly returned too late in his career to make a serious impact. Dowling, seemingly spurred on by the competition, has solidified a place on the wing for the European champions.

"It is difficult for league because union is getting even more popular every year. If players are good enough to make it at a decent level they will do it at union.

"There is not really a springboard into league. Ian Dowling played league for Ireland but seems happy to play for Munster now."

Gibbons recruited Barbour to the league team and after Carlow took the national league title this season both men were called up to the World Cup squad.

Gibbons and the Carlow prop Wayne Kerr have also played for the London Skolars.

Brendan Guilfoyle from the Treaty City Titans is the fourth home-grown player in the Ireland squad. He is a late replacement for the injured Melbourne Storm prop Brett White.

"Our target is a semi-final place. We would be confident of beating the Tongans (shock, horror, the Islanders' talent pool has been drained by New Zealand) and hopefully they will knock the stuffing out of the Samoans for us so they are not as full-on.

"I'd like to think I can get into the match squad. I'd definitely be hoping to get involved in one game at least."

Perfect scenario?

Ireland find a way through, or more advisedly around, Tonga and Samoa to set up a quarter-final probably against Fiji.

Win that and the Kangaroos should be waiting in the last four. That's the host nation, by the way.

Ever seen a State of Origin match? Not for the faint-hearted. Brett White looks increasingly like an irreplaceable loss.

There are other top-quality players, however, like the Wigan duo Pat Richards and Mick McIlorum.

But little is expected of Ireland - not unlike the band of cricketers we sent to the West Indies.

Ireland will be competitive if nothing else.

For Barbour, it's about leaving, eh, a mark.