Fans take clear GB stance on potential rugby league Ashes tour

There will be a return to the rugby league Ashes next year, with Australia now reportedly set to travel to England for a three-game series.

Initially, England had been set to travel down under but recent reports suggest that the Kangaroos will travel to England to contest the three-match series.

Across history, Ashes tours were largely between Australia and a Great Britain team, but with it usually being England competing in Test matches and World Cups nowadays, it seems that it might be likely that it’s England that would play in 2025 instead.

However, when we asked people whether they would prefer an England or GB team to compete, there was only one real answer.

Fans take clear GB stance on potential rugby league Ashes tour

Many people accepted that there aren’t many non-English players good enough to make it into a GB and Ireland team, but wanted that brand for the tour anyway.

Greg Preston said: “Has to be Great Britain. Anything other than that is not a Kangaroos Tour and we shouldn’t take part.

“If the leagues are serious about the international game, this has to come back as it was before. We might even bring back Cliff Lyons to break your hearts like he did at Old Trafford in 1990.”

Chris Heading agreed, saying:  “GB but realistically how many current Welsh, Scots or Irishmen would get in the team. Even if it’s 100% English players I still prefer the idea of being called GB Lions.

Julian Beynon said: If it’s the Ashes it’s Great Britain regardless of if any Wales / Scotland or Irish players get selected.”

Phil Sephton also said: “It should be Great Britain, but not too sure if the team would be much different to the England team.”

However, Chris Heading suggested: “If you created a team today for next season of only Scots/ Welsh and Irish players, you’d struggle to put together a half-decent Championship side… so might as well just call it England.

“Unless we’re going to say because the likes of Luke Keary have played for Ireland, would they also be eligible for GB?”

He wouldn’t, though, as he has played for a Tier 1 side – Australia.