Wigan reportedly among favourites to host Ashes Test match between England and Australia in 2025

[josie andrews]

England are set to host world champions Australia in 2025 for the first rugby league Ashes series in more than 20 years.

According to reports, rugby league bosses are hoping to have the mouth-watering series confirmed by the end of the year alongside venues for the three Test matches, with Wigan ‘leading the way’ to host England and Australia for one of those.

Leeds, either Headingley Stadium or Elland Road, and a game in the capital have also been mentioned in the reports.

The Brick Community Stadium hosted the first Test match between England and 2022 World Cup finalists Samoa in October, attracting a crowd of 15,137.

Wigan Warriors’ World Club Challenge match against NRL kings Penrith Panthers earlier in February recorded a sell-out crowd, with an official attendance of 24,091. The town also hosted England versus Papua New Guinea during the 2022 World Cup.

The home of Leeds Rhinos hosted the second Test match against the Samoans as England claimed a 2-0 series win, and head coach Shaun Wane was asked for his choice of venues for next year’s Ashes.

“All three in Wigan would be good,” the 60-year-old joked.

“I’ve not really thought about it. We’ve got that many potential venues.

“I’m sure they’ll pick three really good venues and Australia haven’t been here (playing against us) for 20 years, so the atmosphere is going to be great.”

England have not faced Australia on the international stage since the 2017 World Cup final in Brisbane, while they have not played on these shores since the 2016 Four Nations - held at the London Stadium.

https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby- ... 25-4855151

[Blackpool_Pie]

Massive for the international game to get this series sorted for next year and about time too. I just hope the Ozzies take it seriously and that we can pack out the grounds each game

[Firestarter]

Cant wait to be honest.But why elland road? I mean come on its only coz headingley isnt big enough

[the pieman]

lets be honest about this, Wigan should be nowhere near big enough, but i suppose thats the current situation and the ambition of the RFL. we should be aiming for something like the below with a min of 50k at each game, and if the Ozzies commit now, should be promoting the hell out of the series, TV adverts / Radio and social media

Tottenham / Arsenal or Wembley
Old Trafford / Etihad / Anfield or Evertons new ground
Not Elland Rd, but is there a decent stadium in yorkshire to hold 50k (perhaps Newcastle?)

but we'll likely get
Wigan (25k)
Huddersfield (25k) / Headingley (20k)
and
Hull (25k)

[EagleEyePie]

lets be honest about this, Wigan should be nowhere near big enough, but i suppose thats the current situation and the ambition of the RFL. we should be aiming for something like the below with a min of 50k at each game, and if the Ozzies commit now, should be promoting the hell out of the series, TV adverts / Radio and social media

Tottenham / Arsenal or Wembley
Old Trafford / Etihad / Anfield or Evertons new ground
Not Elland Rd, but is there a decent stadium in yorkshire to hold 50k (perhaps Newcastle?)

but we'll likely get
Wigan (25k)
Huddersfield (25k) / Headingley (20k)
and
Hull (25k)

I agree. Wigan shouldn't be one of the options for the first Ashes series in over 20 years. Elland Road should be completely out of the question too. It's a terrible stadium. We need to be hosting these events at modern or, at the very least, prestigious grounds.

Personally I'd like to see the Emirates or Tottenham (primarily for fans in London/South and travelling fans), Etihad or Everton (for fans in the north west) and Newcastle (for fans in Yorkshire and the north east). While Newcastle isn't a modern ground it's definitely the flagship stadium on that side of the Pennines.

[Wiganer Ted]

I can understand why the RFL might think of Wigan's Brick Stadium for an Australian International.
They surely were impressed by the crowd for the WCC match v Penrith. The ground was sold out somewhere between 7 or 10 days prior to match day.
Although fans from all clubs will have attended but Wigan RL will have been credited, and rightly, with the spectacular pre match entertainment and the whole event.

Agree with the main discussion about stadia for the three matches.
In London the three grounds of Emirates, Spurs or Wembley should all be considered if available.
Here in the North the Etihad must be on the list but where else? Man U's Old Trafford is a slum.
As for Everton's new ground, It's on the waterfront. Parking is an unknown and public transport will have to be arranged. Train stations are Sandhills which is on the Southport line, Bank Hall is quite a walk away.

Maybe first game in the North, second London then third back in the North.
We shall see.

[moto748]

I always thought it was disgraceful that Wigan weren't considered for a game in the last World Cup, until a late change.

[Major T]

No way should Wigan be hosting one of these games.

If 25k is the best we can hope for it almost seems not worth bothering. We got 38,000 at Man city in 2004 and that was when we played Australia every year. Only benefit I can see is a sell out is preferable to say a half empty big stadium.

Elland road might be bad but it's at least bigger, plus i'm not sure what alternative there is in Yorkshire. Newcastle seems a long way away.

[EDINBURGH-WARRIOR]

It probably all depends on the size of financial guarantees the Aussies are demanding . Taking the non Heartlands game to Newcastle might be a good shout . The Toon has a good record with crowds for international rugby over the last few years in both codes.

EW

[the pieman]

i personally just want to see a 3 test series v the Ozzies, and will be absolutely buzzing if it goes ahead. My 1st ever match was in 1982 GB v Oz and i love the test series & old style tours (perhaps moreso than watching some club matches). I would love for a rebrand as such, and we go back to Great Britain for the test series

i just want the RFL to have some ambition for once, and not go for the "we've sold out 3 grounds" @ 25k of recent years

I know there will be differing opinions on where but the general consensus is 1 North West, 1 London and 1 Yorkshire (apart from Elland Rd - not fit for purpose IMO, other than its hold 45k). Another option, and it brings our Cumbrian & Scottish friends a little closer could be one of the big grounds in Glasgow

Alongside the Ozzies touring, if we played as GB, then the RFL could organise a home nations style competition for the players on the fringes of international selection, as that IMO will only benefit us over here in the long term if we can get some decent quality international games and give players that experience. Now, these should be played at the smaller capacity venues as they wont have anywhere near the same drawer as the Ozzies initially, but its something to build on, and look to the longer term