Where are they now? The last England men’s team to face Australia as Rugby League Ashes confirmed

Details of the 2025 rugby league Ashes series between England and Australia have been confirmed with the nations facing for the first time since 2017.

It will be the first Ashes series since 2003 but the first match between the men’s teams since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final, a match that the Australians won 6-0.

When England and Australia kick off this year’s rugby league Ashes series at Wembley on October 25th, a total of 2,884 days will have passed since the nations last met.

Many of the current crop of England players will have still been at school back then with stars such as Junior Nsemba being just 13 years old, but what of the 17 men who represented England in that final in Brisbane?

England v Australia Rugby League Ashes Test series confirmed with ticket details revealed

Australia edged the game 6-0 but England fans will still recall that ankle-tap tackle on Kallum Watkins and wonder ‘what if’?

We’ve looked back at Wayne Bennett’s squad from that Rugby League World Cup final, the last meeting between England and Australia’s men’s teams until this upcoming Ashes series.

Where are they now? The England team that faced Australia in 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final

😤 Rivalry Reignited

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 #EnglandRL will face @Kangaroos in the @ABKBeer Rugby League Ashes for the first time since 2003!

👇 Pre-register your interest in tickets now… pic.twitter.com/GwS3ghd7Z5

— England Rugby League (@England_RL) March 26, 2025

Of the 17-man squad named for the final, nine are still playing, however, some of those have officially retired from international duty but two or three of those who remain active could find themselves in action in October and November.

Full-back: Gareth Widdop

Widdop was one of the England team who was playing in Australia at the time representing St George Illawarra Dragons. He would then make the move to Super League but last played rugby league for Halifax Panthers in 2024, ahead of a surprise switch to join Huddersfield Rugby Union Football Club for 2025.

Winger: Jermaine McGillvary

Jermaine McGillvary called time on his playing career at the end of 2024 after helping Wakefield Trinity complete a treble, however, back in 2017 he was one of the hottest wingers on the planet. ‘Jerry’ bagged himself seven tries in that World Cup and earned himself a spot in the team of the tournament.

Centre: Kallum Watkins

Fans will remember a rampaging Kallum Watkins running through only for the then-Leeds man to be ankle-tapped in devastating fashion. Since then, Watkins has redefined himself as one of Super League’s best second-rowers and could put himself in the mix later this year.

Centre: John Bateman

Another second-rower playing centre and another player who is in with a shout of featuring for Shaun Wane later this year. John Bateman is back Down Under in the NRL with North Queensland Cowboys now but he could be back home for the Ashes in October.

Winger: Ryan Hall

Ryan Hall has just played his 500th career game with the winger back home at Leeds Rhinos having spent time in the NRL and then with Hull KR. Another who has called time on their international career, we won’t be seeing him later this year.

Half-back: Kevin Brown

Kevin Brown was flying high with Warrington back in 2017 having just joined them from rivals Widnes with this game against Australia being the last time he represented England on the international stage. He retired in 2021 and now works as a TV pundit.

Half-back Luke Gale

Another who has retired with Gale calling time at the end of last year and taking up a coaching gig with Wakefield Trinity’s academy. His 2017 campaign in Super League was among the best we’ve seen as he helped Castleford win the League Leaders Shield and make it to the Grand Final.

Prop: Chris Hill

Hill is one of those who is still active and despite the fact that he will be 38 by the time of the third and final Test this year, he’s still in with a shot. Shaun Wane has backed him in recent years but the new Salford man did not play against Samoa last year.

Hooker: James Roby

The St Helens legend is one of those in this crop who has actually played for Great Britain against Australia as well as England. Roby called time on his career at the end of the 2023 season and last played for England in 2018. He now works with St Helens in a coaching role.

Prop: James Graham

One of the finest props that England have had and one of the few players to have made 50 appearances on the international stage and earn a golden cap. At the time, Graham was playing his rugby with Canterbury and was set to move to St George the season after. He now works as a pundit and has his own very successful podcast.

Second-row: Ben Currie

At just 30 now, Currie was one of the younger members of this squad and that puts him in position to potentially play later this year, especially if his form with Warrington Wolves resumes. He debuted for England at this World Cup and then wouldn’t earn a call-up again until 2021 but he’s featured heavily under Shaun Wane in recent years.

Second-row: Elliott Whitehead

Whitehead is back in Super League now but the second-rower is another who has confirmed his international retirement, doing so after the successful Tonga series in 2023.

Loose forward: Sam Burgess

The captain of England on that December day back in 2017, Burgess has had some career since then with the former South Sydney man being the only current Super League coach in this team despite only being 36.

Interchange: Alex Walmsley

St Helens man Alex Walmsley has had an electric start to Super League in 2025, averaging almost 160 metres per game and that’s the sort of thing that will catch the eye of Shaun Wane. Having missed the 2024 series against Samoa due to injury, the Saints man will be pushing for a spot in the squad come October.

Interchange: Tom Burgess

Another of the Burgess brothers to play that day but Tom is still playing having made the move to Super League recently. He’s also an England regular and will be another veteran trying to beat out the likes of young stars such as his own Huddersfield teammate Oliver Wilson.

Interchange: Chris Heighington

Some fans might have forgotten about Heighington due to the fact that he spent all of his career in the NRL and was actually born and lived in Australia. Despite that, he qualified for England due to his Dad and debuted for England in 2011 with his final game for England coming in that 2017 final. He is currently an assistant coach with the Wests Tigers.

Interchange: Jonny Lomax

The Saints number seven is still going strong in Super League but has not played for England since 2021 and with the likes of Mikey Lewis, Harry Smith, George Williams and Marc Sneyd on the scene, it’s hard to see that changing this year.