England are set to host Tonga in the first test of this autumns three test series however that clash at the Totally Wicked Stadium has been delayed.
It was confirmed via the BBC that the game, initially scheduled for a 2.30pm kick off, was to be delayed by ten minutes and Serious About Rugby League now understand the issue to be regarding fans accessing the stadium due to an issue with ticket scanning machines.
Fans will now have to wait for their first fix of England in international rugby action since April, during the game that Wane’s men won easily against France by a score of 64-0.
This three match series against Tonga is expected to provide a far stiffer challenge with former St Helens boss Kristian Woolf’s Tongan side ranked just behind England in the world rankings.
Both teams crashed out of last year’s World Cup at the hands of finalists Samoa, Tonga in the quarter finals whilst England lost in an agonising golden point game during the semi-finals.
This will be the first real test that either side have had since then and is being billed as a game of redemption for both teams.
England are without their captain George Williams and therefore Shaun Wane has had to name a new captain, with St Helens full-back Jack Welsby being the man to get the nod.
In doing so he becomes the youngest ever England captain at just 22 years of age and he’ll now lead an England side featuring a young spine of himself, debutant Mikey Lewis, Grand Final winner Harry Smith as well as the experienced Daryl Clark.
Clark edges out former Warrington Wolves teammate Danny Walker who is on the bench, whilst Grand Final winning captain Liam Farrell is a shock omission and only takes the role of 18th man.
A backline anchored by Welsby features Tommy Makinson and Tom Johnstone on the wings with Toby King and Harry Newman in the centres.
The forward pack boasts plenty of NRL talent with Tom Burgess, John Bateman, Elliot Whitehead and Victor Radley lining up alongside Catalans Dragons’ Mike McMeeken.
