Five St.Helens players have been named in the England 24-man squad for the historic return of the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes this autumn!
The Saints can boast the highest club representation in the squad that will face Australia in a three-match Test series, the first Ashes Series in 22 years. Played across three consecutive Saturday afternoons on October 25th, November 1st and November 8th, all three games will kick-off at 2:30pm (GMT).
Test One sees a new chapter added in Rugby League’s storied history at Wembley, followed by new ground being broken in Tests Two at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium, followed by Test Three at Leeds’ AMT Headingley Stadium. The matches in Liverpool and Leeds have been sold out for months, and tickets are for the first meeting between England and the Kangaroos in eight years at the national stadium on October 25th.
Our selected Saints are: Daryl Clark, Morgan Knowles, Matty Lees, Alex Walmsley, and Jack Welsby.
Clark, Knowles, Lees and Welsby hold their places from last autumn’s series victory over Samoa, whilst for Walmsley, it marks a return to international selection following a strong season in the Red V. The Saints’ #8 last England match was in 2021, a 30-10 win over France.
Head Coach Shaun Wane said: “I’m really excited by the 24 players we have selected ahead of this upcoming Ashes Series.
“There were some tough decisions to be made given the quality we have across both Super League and the NRL and that’s never easy, but I am confident that the 24 selected will give us the best chance of winning this series.
“The return of The Ashes has been a long time coming and we now have the chance to face off against the Kangaroos and look to make history by being the first English side to win The Ashes in over 50 years.
“We already have two sold out venues in Everton and Headingley and I’m sure the atmosphere at Wembley in less than two weeks time will be electric.”
England’s ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes Squad
John Bateman (North Queensland Cowboys)
AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
Joe Burgess (Hull KR)
Daryl Clark (St Helens)
Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
Jez Litten (Hull KR)
Mike McMeeken (Wakefield Trinity)
Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Tom Johnstone (Wakefield Trinity)
Kai Pearce-Paul (Newcastle Knights)
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
Owen Trout (Leigh Leopards)
Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)
Kallum Watkins (Leeds Rhinos)
Jack Welsby (St Helens)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)
