England Head Coach Shaun Wane has named a provisional 24-player squad for next Friday’s (25 June) mid-season fixture against the Combined Nations All Stars at Warrington and it includes four Saints.
Tommy Makinson, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley and Morgan Knowles are all named. Knowles represented Wales at the 2017 World Cup but switched allegiances to England last year ahead of the game which is planned to be on the same night Saints face Hull KR in the Betfred Super League R11.
The squad, which will be reduced to 19 before the squad goes into camp next week also includes George Williams, who returns to England as a free agent following his release on compassionate grounds from Canberra Raiders. Williams’s final appearance for the Raiders was against Melbourne Storm on 22 May and his inclusion in the final squad is subject to fitness.
Also included are Castleford’s Paul McShane, the 2020 Betfred Super League Man of Steel who is set for his England debut at the age of 31, plus several uncapped players.
Ash Handley is joined by his Leeds Rhinos team-mate Mikolaj Oledzki, who has earned a promotion from the England Knights squad and could make history as the first Poland-born player to play international Rugby League.
Another Knights graduate, the Warrington Wolves centre Toby King is also called up whilst there are first call-ups for Huddersfield’s explosive centre Jake Wardle and for Tom Davies, who is one of the two Catalans Dragons players in the squad alongside Sam Tomkins.
Wakefield’s Joe Westerman is re-called to the England set up after an absence of seven years, joining his Trinity team-mate Reece Lyne in the squad.
No NRL-based players were considered for selection.
England Head Coach Shaun Wane says: “We have a good blend of youth, versatility and experience, and I have every confidence in whoever makes the final cut. I watch every Betfred Super League game, every week, at least once, and all of these players have earned the right to play for England.”
24-player England squad
John Bateman (Wigan Warriors), Daryl Clark, Mike Cooper, Ben Currie (all Warrington Wolves), Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Luke Gale, Ash Handley (both Leeds Rhinos), Toby King (Warrington Wolves), Morgan Knowles (St Helens), Reece Lyne (Wakefield Trinity), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Paul McShane (Castleford Tigers), Tommy Makinson (St Helens), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos), Joe Philbin, Stefan Ratchford (both Warrington Wolves), Dan Sarginson (Salford Red Devils), Sam Tomkins (Catalans Dragons), Alex Walmsley (St Helens), Jake Wardle (Huddersfield Giants), Joe Westerman (Wakefield Trinity), George Williams (Free agent).
