England head coach Brian McDermott made it clear from the get-go that he would have no issue selecting heritage players for this year’s Rugby League World Cup, and his initial 38-man squad has highlighted that.
Outside of Victor Radley and AJ Brimson, who have both played for England before, a host of Australian-born players have been named in the 38-man squad, as well as Super League standout and Kiwi-born Caleb Hamlin-Uele.
One of those Australian-born players, Jayden Brailey, has now given his verdict on the call-up with the Canberra Raiders hooker explaining why it would mean so much to represent England at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Brailey qualifies for England through his mother, Carla, who was born in Liverpool and he’s explained that representing her and his recently-passed grandmother would be his major motivation.
“It definitely means a lot to me, and if I can play some good footy and make that next cut leading into the World Cup, it would be a dream come true,” he admitted in an interview shared on the Rugby League World Cup 2026 official site.
“I always have been vocal about representing England one day, and it’s always been in the back of my mind.
“Every year I run out with the English flag around my neck on Multicultural Round, and it means a lot to my family.”
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Family connections driving Jayden Brailey to World Cup selection
Speaking more on his familial connections, Brailey admitted that being English has always been a part of his identity whilst also explaining what donning the England flag during Multicultural Round meant for his grandmother.
He said: “She passed away at the end of last year, so I’ve always had a really special place in my heart for England. Every time I ran out with that English flag, she’d always text me. I knew how much it meant to her.
“I’d spoken about in the press, as well, and there was a newspaper article that once came out about the possibility of me representing England, and she was over the moon.
“She kept that snippet in the paper, and it’s probably still at her place now. It would definitely be special to honour those two (his mum and grandmother) because they’re both very special in my life.”
One interesting dynamic if Brailey is selected to play for England at the World Cup would be the fact that his brother, Blayke, could line up for Australia after he snubbed an England call-up and was named as part of Australia’s Ashes squad last year.
On the prospect of facing his brother, he said: “Obviously, standing on opposite sides and singing the anthem would be pretty cool.”
