Fresh blow to England's 2024 plans as Samoa turn down series invite

[josie andrews]

England are on the lookout for new opponents in 2024 after Samoa turned down an invitation to play a three-match series next autumn.

The World Cup finalists instead look set to compete in the southern hemisphere’s Pacific Shield again next year.

England Men and Women are set to tour Australia in a return of the Ashes in 2025, with Shaun Wane’s side having recently completed a 3-0 series whitewash over Tonga on home soil in St Helens, Huddersfield and Leeds respectively.

With the next World Cup confirmed for 2026 following France’s withdrawal, the Rugby Football League say they are ‘determined’ to find new opponents and maintain the momentum for Wane’s squad in 2024.

RFL Chair and IRL board member, Simon Johnson, says: “Samoa’s decision is especially disappointing, coming just days after the conclusion of Tonga’s history-making visit to these shores this autumn, but we can’t afford to dwell on it. They have made their decision.

“We now owe it to Shaun Wane and the players, and to England supporters, to deliver meaningful international Rugby League in 2024, and we are working with RL Commercial and the IRL to make that happen.

“We’ll make further announcements as soon as there are any positive developments.”

Head coach Wane said he is hopeful of a mid-season international fixture again in 2024, with no plans yet confirmed.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... te-4404224

[Mike]

The Tongans can't have given the experience a thumbs up, or found it financially valuable then. Not surprised really. The pitches were too soft, the refereeing poor etc. They've all been in Aus too long and picked up the Australian Wingeing Inflective. TBH crowds were low and the whole thing seemed a bit underwhelming from afar, but then so was the final of the Pacific cup.

[Mike]

Why don't we go and play in the Pacific nations cup in disguise. We'd beat them all and kick start some real international pride.

[Caboosegg]

Seem more of don't want to risk losing to England.

Says something about the team that we only really get to play against france/wales/Scotland with any consistency but still compete with the NRL stacked teams.

[fozzieskem]

Shame that but I guess that is a problem with living up this side of the world to make them come over it has to be worth it and make the sum add up,then I saw the headline George Burgess had to pay to upgrade his seat as the rfl wouldn't pay for business class and it starts to make sense.

[Blackpool_Pie]

Seem more of don't want to risk losing to England.

Says something about the team that we only really get to play against france/wales/Scotland with any consistency but still compete with the NRL stacked teams.

I very much doubt they're worried about losing to England

[the pieman]

its almost like the NRL dont want anyone travelling without their say so, and must be putting a bit of money into the pacific island nations to stop them from coming over

it should be seen as an honour, and also a mark of respect for how far they have progressed that we want a 3 test series with them. I've posted on here and elsewhere that i think the RFL should be hung drawn and quartered for how poorly marketed the Tonga series was. It should have been 3 full houses (ignore Woolf complaining about the pitch - he probably wanted to play there cos of his connections) as that side has some real ability in it. Unfortunately, i dont think they did themselves any favours as they seemed disinterested with the whole series