Jamie Benson has been named in the Ireland squad after qualifying through his Irish family background, RTE.ie reported on Saturday, 31 October 2026. The Ulster player said he takes pride in his Irish family and heritage, according to the broadcaster.
Benson's selection did not come through the most direct path. In comments carried by the Irish Independent, he said his Irish roots mean a great deal to him while acknowledging that England had been his first preference. The Irish Examiner reported him saying that opportunities in life are not something a person gets to choose, and that he is ready to take the Ireland chance.
The 42 carried his recollection of growing up in an Ireland jersey, describing himself as a toddler running around in one. The Belfast Telegraph framed the call-up as the product of persistence, reporting that he had grown frustrated over a lack of game time before earning the Ireland recognition, and quoted the view that he had earned it.
Across the coverage, the theme is a player arriving in the national set-up through ancestry rather than a conventional route, and speaking openly about both his Irish identity and his earlier ambitions. The Irish Independent's headline captured that mix directly, quoting him on his pride in his heritage alongside his honesty about England.
What to watch next: whether Benson is handed a first cap, and how he performs if selected.