Rugby League fans ask same question after reported Ashes venues revealed

Reports have emerged detailing the venues for the 2025 Ashes series and that’s seen rugby league fans question the decisions, with one ground in particular causing upset.

Ross Heppenstall reported for Love Rugby League that Wembley, Headingley and Everton’s new Bramley-Moore Dock stadium will host the long-awaited Ashes series which is scheduled to be held later this year.

Dates are yet to be confirmed but the series would be played in the off-season meaning October and November is when the games will be played, likely playing at Everton during football’s international break. That ground’s involvement was first reported back in November.

We’ve not had a rugby league Ashes series since 2003 but it is all but locked in, barring the official confirmation, with Australia set to tour England in a huge moment for the sport.

Selecting venues for international fixtures is always a point of contention with the eternal debate of playing in the heartlands or trying to grow the game so the reported three venues do both.

However, there have been questions from fans regarding two of the venues with one in particular being dismissed by fans.

Rugby League fans ask same question after reported Ashes venues revealed

Serious About Rugby League asked fans if they were happy with the reported three venues with the consensus deeming Everton’s stadium a good venue, but eyebrows were raised about Headingley and Wembley.

Here are a selection of the reactions from our Facebook page with the post in question embedded at the bottom of the article.

Christopher Henstock: “Yep, but would have gone for SJP over Headingley.”

Dave Walsh: “Apart from Headingley!!”

Niall Courtney: “Wembley and Everton yes. If your using Headingley then surely your better of using the MKM in Hull.”

Ed Hocknull: “Wembley and Everton’s stadium are very good choices, it’s the Ashes, so selling them out really shouldn’t be a problem. But Headingley has to be a wind up, surely? Brilliant little ground, but it’s too small for this series. Elland Road if it is in Leeds, or take it up to Newcastle. Play the greatest game in the best stadiums we’ve got.”

Andy Ed: “Surely not headingley? Really unambitious if so. Tottenham also better than Wembley. The 50k-60k stadiums are the spot on type and what they should be aiming for like Everton.”

There was also some opposition to Wembley which has been notoriously hard for rugby league to fill in recent years.

Darran Curtis: “Not Wembley surely! Look at that photo there with the top tier closed! Everton, Elland Rd and Wigan or Hull would be decent venues.”

Mark Dobson: “If all grounds were available, I’d have personally had Arsenal over Wembley. Great Islington pubs and facilities, easier to get to from the North, and 60,000 is more suitable than 90,000.”

Peter Gleeson: “Be lucky get 40k on at Wembley…looks terrible, you could sell out Wigan, Huddersfield and Hull, great atmosphere promote the game properly……nothing worse than half empty stadiums.”

You can see the debate in the attached post below.