It will be an important stepping-stone into AFL ranks for the Agricultural Science student from University College Dublin, who will be selected by Richmond as an international rookie in the league’s rookie draft at the end of the year.
Heslin has excelled at soccer, as well as Ireland’s two indigenous sports, Gaelic football and hurling, and showed considerable promise in a week-long training stint with Richmond earlier this year.
“John’s commitments with his Gaelic team, Westmeath, are finished and he’s really looking forward to coming out to Australia again and representing Ireland in the International Cup,” said Richmond’s Recruiting Manager Francis Jackson.
Ireland won the Australian Football International Cup, which is held every three years, back in 2002, and it ranked fourth overall for this year’s series. Papua-New Guinea, which won the last International Cup, in 2008, is ranked No. 1 of the 18 competing nations.
