Last week it was announced that England will face Samoa this autumn in a two-match Test series sponsored by ABK Beer – at The Brick Community Stadium, Wigan, on Sunday 27 October and at AMT Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds, on Saturday 2 November.
The two-match Test series, Samoa's first in England, offers Head Coach Shaun Wane and his team an opportunity to avenge the bitter disappointment of their World Cup Semi Final defeat in November 2022.
On The Sportsman’s latest episode of The Last Tackle, England Head Coach Shaun Wane talks all things England RL – from Samoa and France to Future Stars.
“I’m excited. I’m really pumped for the news of the Test series coming up,” Wane said.
“To get these games on is tremendous and to be able to build-on what we did last year against Tonga is great for our competition.
"I want the players to enjoy it. Playing for England has to be enjoyable and a pleasure, and we're all proud Englishmen. When we get together it's not just about pushing each other really hard, it's about enjoying our time together and the spirit we have.
"The loss against Samoa in the World Cup took a lot of getting over, but they were the best team and we were poor. I dwelled a lot on that and it was tough to get over.
"There's been a lot of soul-searching since, so to be able to have Samoa in this Test-series, there will be an element of revenge, but also a chance to put things right.
"This Samoa test - the players will be so pleased and then so pumped to make sure they get in that squad.
"A rock solid international calendar is vital for our game moving forward..."
But first, England Men will face France in Toulouse on Saturday 29 June in a mid-season international double-header with the Women, and Wane recognised the importance of building and preparing a strong England team:
“I’ll pick on form and it will be a younger team, there’s no doubt about that,” explained Wane.
"It’s really important that we have our eyes wide open and understanding that we [England] need to be strong in a few years time, and that’s the way I’m going to pick my French team.
“The French team are going to be strong – they’ve got an anniversary coming up and it’s in Toulouse. They will be very, very good [on Saturday] and Catalans are releasing all their players to them for this game.
“And if that’s the case, then we want to go over there and we want to win that game. We want to spread the good name of Super League and make sure we’re at our best.”
Watch the full episode here.
More details on the England v France announcement can be found here.
More details on the England v Samoa announcement can be found here.
England’s Men and Women will play France in Toulouse on Saturday 29 June, as the French Rugby League (FFR XIII) celebrates 90 years of the game in the republic.
England Women take on France at 3.30pm (local time, 2:30pm UK), followed by the Men’s international at 6pm (5pm, UK) – and both matches will be streamed LIVE and FREE from Stade Ernest-Wallon on SuperLeague+, Rugby League’s global, direct-to-consumer streaming service.
Tickets for the England v Samoa Test Series are available to buy now at rugby-league.com/tickets with prices starting per test match from £25 Adults and £12.50 Under 16s. If booking 10 tickets or more, save 20% with prices instead from £20 Adults and £10 Under 16s – available now via the Groups Sales team at groups@rlcommercial.co.uk or on 0844 856 1115.
