Exclusive: England squad announcement delayed as candidates assessed

Now that Wigan Warriors are your Super League Champions, stars from Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, St Helens and other Super League stars are all now focused on England. They will all be hoping to be named in Shaun Wane’s England squad which was supposed to be named today (October 16).

But Serious About Rugby League can confirm that the squad’s selection has been delayed to give medical assessments more time to assess candidates for the squad after the Grand Final.

The squad will now be named tomorrow with Tom Johnstone expected to be named. England will be looking to name a strong squad with big potential as they prepare for the Ashes in 2025 and World Cup in 2026.

The entire series will be shown live. BBC Sport will revive the spirit of last autumn’s Rugby League World Cup with live and exclusive coverage of five internationals involving three England teams this autumn – including a repeat of the unforgettable Wheelchair Final between England and France.

Tom Halliwell’s World Cup winners will return to action for the first time since their dramatic 28-24 triumph against the French in a mouthwatering rematch against their old French enemy at the first direct Arena in Leeds on the afternoon of Sunday November 5 (3.15pm kick-off).

The Wheelchair International will mean three England teams in action in Leeds on a single weekend, as it follows the double header at Headingley on Saturday November 4, when England Women take on Wales followed by the third and final Test of the men’s series against Tonga – and RL Commercial acknowledge the support of Leeds City Council in delivering this triple header.

BBC Sport will cover all the action, starting with the first Test between England and Tonga at the Totally Wicked Stadium in St Helens on Sunday October 22 – eight days after the Betfred Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

It is a first-ever series between England and Tonga, and the first meeting between the nations since the classic World Cup semi final in 2017 when England just held off a thrilling late fightback in Auckland.

Rhodri Jones, the Managing Director of Rugby League Commercial, previously said: “It was so important for us for our England teams to play at home again this autumn. We are thrilled to be welcoming Kristian Woolf and his Tonga team for an historic three-Test series, and equally excited that Jodie Cunningham will lead England Women against Wales in the first part of a double-header at Headingley on November 4.”

Autumn Internationals (full calendar)

Sunday October 22: England v Tonga, first Test at Totally Wicked Stadium, St Helens – 2.30pm, BBC 1
Saturday October 28: England v Tonga, second Test at John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield – 2.30pm, BBC 1
Saturday November 4: England Women v Wales, Headingley Stadium, Leeds – midday, BBC 2
Saturday November 4: England v Tonga, third Test at Headingley Stadium, Leeds – 2.30pm, BBC 1
Sunday November 5: England Wheelchair v France, First Direct Arena, Leeds – 3.15pm, BBC 2