England’s upcoming rugby league test series against Samoa was reportedly moved back a week due to a particularly strange situation.
England will face Samoa in a two-game series after the Super League season has concluded, with games on the 27th of October and the 2nd of November.
This means a strong squad is able to be selected, including NRL stars that weren’t available for the mid-season international against France.
Six NRL players have been included: Victory Radley, Dom Young, Herbie Farnworth, Kai Pearce-Paul and Tom Burgess.
Meanwhile, uncapped Wigan Warriors duo Liam Marshall and Junior Nsemba have also been named.
After the drama surrounding the mid-season international against France, there has been much hope that this upcoming series will be much better for International Rugby League.
However, new information has come out, suggesting a farcical situation.
England and Samoa Rugby League tests delayed due to bizarre reason
In a piece by the Sydney Morning Herald on Sydney Roosters, NSW Blues and Australia star Angus Crichton, they revealed: “Such is his standing in the game already that Crichton’s looming wedding forced the Test series between Samoa and England in the UK in October to be delayed by a week.
“Knowing most of the Samoan side will be at the wedding, including Panthers duo Brian To’o and Jarome Luai, and Roosters prop Spencer Leniu, officials asked organisers in England to push the two Tests back by a week otherwise the Samoans would struggle to field a team.”
A wedding causing a much-awaited international test series to be delayed isn’t a great look nfor the game, and is just the latest kick in the teeth for international rugby league, just a week after a series was cancelled five days after being announced.
Nevertheless, we can now look forward to a hopefully high-quality set of fixtures this Autumn, and an Ashes series in Australia next year.
Anonymous
September 23, 2024 at 2:11 am
Is Stephen Crichton’s wedding, not Angus Critchton, who is not Samoan