Revealed: Why England squad announcement has been delayed

Now that Wigan Warriors crowned Champions of Super League, the focus now turns onto England as stars from Leeds Rhinos, Warrington Wolves, St Helens and the rest of Super League hope to be selected in Shaun Wane’s England squad.

The squad was set to be announced two days after the Grand Final but that Grand Final has seen the announcement postponed.

This is because England have now given the clubs longer to medically assess players after the Grand Final to determine their fitness ahead of selection.

The announcement will be made tomorrow morning.

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