England suffer mass withdrawals as Shaun Wane loses over a quarter of his squad

[josie andrews]

Fourteen players are understood to have withdrawn so far, though two top stars will feature.

Over a quarter of Shaun Wane's 40-man squad have withdrawn ahead of England's mid-season international with France. Rugby League Live understands a stack of players have been ruled out as head coach Shaun Wane prepares to bring his group together during the international break.

Among the notable names withdrawn are Hull KR halfback Jordan Abdull, one of the competition's leading performers and Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman, whose wait for an England debut continues.

Jack Welsby and George Williams are both expected to play in the match, with Wane set to roll out some of his stars alongside a number of debutants.

Seven of St Helens' eight members have been withdrawn, with Welsby the only Saints star set to be in contention to feature against France later this week. Tommy Makinson, Mark Percival and Alex Walmsley are injured, Morgan Knowles is suspended while Matty Lees, Lewis Dodd and Jonny Lomax have now also been pulled out.

Leeds prop Mikolaj Oledzki joins Newman in being made unavailable, with the Rhinos forward returning to action three weeks ago after a shoulder injury. Harry Newman suffered an ankle scare in the final tackle of Leeds' loss to Leigh on Friday and was seen limping after the game.

An ankle injury has also seen Will Pryce withdraw from action after he picked up a knock in Huddersfield's defeat to Hull FC while two other Giants players, Chris Hill and Oliver Wilson, are also expected to play no part. Warrington's Daryl Clark is also unavailable after suffering a reoccurrence to the knee injury that ruled him out earlier this season in the Wire's loss to St Helens.

It leaves Wane without some key players as well as younger members he would have wanted to cast his eye over. Call-ups are not expected, with Wane still having around 26 players to choose from. Fifteen of those players are from Wigan and Warrington, Super League's current pace-setters. Wigan aren't thought to have withdrawn anyone from camp.

The withdrawal of Abdull and Dodd will see Harry Smith given a chance to stake the first claim for England's Autumn Test series with Tonga, on the premise it is eventually signed off. Similarly, France are also thought to be struggling, with a number of withdrawals expected from Laurent Frayssinous' side.

England's remaining options from initial 40-man squad

Fullback: Jack Welsby

Wing: Matty Ashton, Tom Davies, Ash Handley, Tom Johnstone, Liam Marshall, Josh Thewlis

Centre: Toby King, Jake Wardle

Halfback: Mikey Lewis, Harry Smith, George Williams

Prop: Tyler Dupree, James Harrison, Ethan Havard, Tom Holroyd, Mike McMeeken

Hooker: Andy Ackers, Jez Litten, Danny Walker

Second-row: Ben Currie, Liam Farrell, Morgan Gannon, Matty Nicholson, Kai Pearce-Paul

Loose forward: Morgan Smithies

https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/ru ... dium=email

[josie andrews]

Well the ones who are still prepared to play for England v France should get priority over the ones who have withdrawn.

The same goes for the Tonga game if it goes ahead.

[Firestarter]

Its not being taken seriously enough.Im sure if we were playing the aussies then they would all want to play

[medlocke]

Those who have withdrawn should never get another chance unless the have withdrawn through a genuine injury

[josie andrews]

Those who have withdrawn should never get another chance unless the have withdrawn through a genuine injury

That too!

[southportcdm]

I've just seen that Willie Isa has been given a two match ban and I'm looking at the devastation to our pack for the next couple of games. Cooper, Singleton, Ellis and now Isa all missing. Although I'm normally a big fan of the international game it does make you wonder why we should risk Havard, Faz and Smithies (and KPP?) in a game where a quarter of the players (including all but one of the saints) have been withdrawn. Let's hope that Waney tries to be fair when allocating game time to anybody from our squad.

[craigo]

Come on !. We don't play enough International matches. Honour to play for your Country.

[archiekeith]

Come on !. We don't play enough International matches. Honour to play for your Country.

It doesn't seem to be the case craigo

[fozzieskem]

And this is why mid-season games will not work. Clubs always have self-interest at heart long enough season as it is without losing a player in a meaningless romp against France.

2nd point is anyone surprised?

[Charriots Offiah]

Deja vu with respect to the Saints boys, it is simply not good enough.