England dealt Test series blow as 2023 series and Shaun Wane future in doubt
Posted: Thu Jan 05, 2023 7:44 pm
There's uncertainty surrounding England's future plans as the status of their Autumn plans, and their coach, remain unclear.
New Zealand will not be taking on England next Autumn, Rugby League Live understands. The Rugby Football League, who are determined to host a Test series in England later this year, had hoped the Kiwis would act as opposition for the national team next Autumn.
However, it's understood that Michael Maguire's side will not be taking up the opportunity to tour in what has gone down as a blow to the RFL's plans ahead of the 2025 World Cup. It had appeared that there was genuine hope a series between two of the sport's powerhouses could have taken place.
The governing body is keen to host Tests both this year and next to provide game competition before the next World Cup in France and despite the setback, they have now set their sights on alternative opponents. However, it's understood that Australia will not be making the trip from down under either.
It means organisers are likely to turn their attention to one of the Pacific Islands, with World Cup Finalists Samoa and Kristian Woolf's Tonga the two obvious candidates. However, they would both require NRL approval given the raft of players they would want to bring across to the UK after the season has finished.
There is a sense of frustration that plans have yet to be finalised, with the World Cup concluding almost two months ago. A review of Shaun Wane's position as England head coach is also ongoing with his future still unclear.
When contacted by Rugby League Live, an RFL spokesperson said: "We are continuing to work on it, we are still hopeful of hosting a home series and hopeful of making an announcement in the near future."
England's last Test series was in 2018, when they overcame New Zealand under Wayne Bennett. A year later, Great Britain went on a disastrous tour of the Southern Hemisphere which cost Wayne Bennett his job. England were due to play Australia in 2020, only for Covid-19 to see those plans abandoned.
Instead, England played just four times between Wane's appointment at the start of 2020 and the World Cup, taking on the Combined Natons All Stars twice as well as fixtures against France and Fiji. They will return to the field in April when they face France in Warrington, though who will coach them is currently unknown.
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New Zealand will not be taking on England next Autumn, Rugby League Live understands. The Rugby Football League, who are determined to host a Test series in England later this year, had hoped the Kiwis would act as opposition for the national team next Autumn.
However, it's understood that Michael Maguire's side will not be taking up the opportunity to tour in what has gone down as a blow to the RFL's plans ahead of the 2025 World Cup. It had appeared that there was genuine hope a series between two of the sport's powerhouses could have taken place.
The governing body is keen to host Tests both this year and next to provide game competition before the next World Cup in France and despite the setback, they have now set their sights on alternative opponents. However, it's understood that Australia will not be making the trip from down under either.
It means organisers are likely to turn their attention to one of the Pacific Islands, with World Cup Finalists Samoa and Kristian Woolf's Tonga the two obvious candidates. However, they would both require NRL approval given the raft of players they would want to bring across to the UK after the season has finished.
There is a sense of frustration that plans have yet to be finalised, with the World Cup concluding almost two months ago. A review of Shaun Wane's position as England head coach is also ongoing with his future still unclear.
When contacted by Rugby League Live, an RFL spokesperson said: "We are continuing to work on it, we are still hopeful of hosting a home series and hopeful of making an announcement in the near future."
England's last Test series was in 2018, when they overcame New Zealand under Wayne Bennett. A year later, Great Britain went on a disastrous tour of the Southern Hemisphere which cost Wayne Bennett his job. England were due to play Australia in 2020, only for Covid-19 to see those plans abandoned.
Instead, England played just four times between Wane's appointment at the start of 2020 and the World Cup, taking on the Combined Natons All Stars twice as well as fixtures against France and Fiji. They will return to the field in April when they face France in Warrington, though who will coach them is currently unknown.
https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email
