A TEAM of legendary Irish darts players will take on some of the biggest names in the history of the game this weekend in an international competition in Wexford.
The Ireland Arrows will be aiming to retain a title they won last year when they compete against England and a rest of UK team packed with former BDO world champions.
The likes of veterans Bob Anderson, Richie Burnett, John Walton and Alan Warriner-Little will descend on Whites Hotel in Rosslare to try prise the trophy back out of Irish hands.
However former PDC star James Keogh, of Meath, told Darts In Ireland that the Irish team will be keen to hold onto it.
James told Darts In Ireland: "We're coming up against some of the real legends of the BDO. Some of them were heroes of mine growing up watching the darts back in the 1980s.
"It's a friendly competition and we will enjoy but once you step up on that ache you want to beat your opponent and that's what we will trying to do.
"This Irish team has been lucky to win it a couple of times before so it would be nice to do it again this weekend.."
The Ireland Arrows team, managed by legendary figure Billy O'Brien, also contains the likes of Dublin's Anto McCracken and Joe Byrne, captain John Murphy of Wexford, Carlow's Paddy Cullen and Anthony Gillespie of Donegal.
James added: "It's great to be involved in something like this with Billy O'Brien, as he is somebody I looked up to and respected as a player over many years.
"I'm nearly 50 and probably one of the younger players on the team, but it's nice to be regarded as a legend and to get to represent your country in that way. It's something to be proud of."
While this weekend will be celebrating some of the historical figures of the game, James said the future of darts is bright given the huge numbers of youth players coming through.
He added: "It's great to see so many youths taking up the game now and playing it at such a high standard too.
"At the Killarney darts festival last weekend, my lad Aidan lost a youths game in which he averaged 88, so that just shows you the incredible standard now.
"While I'm not all about averages, as hitting that winning double is the most important in any game, it does give an indication of where the game is at now.
"But this weekend will be all about the older guys for us and to see the likes of Bob Anderson still getting up there and playing, he is still unbelievable and someone I am proud to call a friend."
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