England and Australia have formed a fierce rivalry over the years, but this year’s hotly anticipated and historic ABK Beer Ashes series will be their first meeting since 2017.
As recently announced, England and Australia’s rivalry will be reignited in 2025 – 22 years since the previous Rugby League Ashes series took place.
Australia enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Great Britain in 2003 - following three fiercely and closely contested test matches.
England last played the Kangaroos at home in the 2016 Four Nations tournament, in which the visitors emerged 36-18 victors at The London Stadium.
In total, England have played Australia 162 times (also under the entity, Great Britain), dating all the way back to 1908. Their last victory against the Aussies under the England brand came in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup, but they have since come close on numerous occasions on either side of the world.
Where the Ashes are concerned, the Kangaroos have won the last 13 series dating back to 1970 - when the series was contested by Great Britain.
There have been countless blood and thunder battles between the two nations, but let’s take a look at some of England v Australia’s most memorable matches in recent times…
1995 World Cup
When England clash with Australia in autumn 2025, it will mark 30 years since their last win over the Green and Golds.
The 1995 World Cup saw these Rugby League giants face off twice under the lights at the famous Wembley – firstly in the opening match of the competition, before the World Cup Final exactly three weeks later.
This opening match was a thrilling spectacle watched by 41,271 fans in the capital.
Andy Farrell, Chris Joynt and Jason Robinson were all on the scoresheet that day, as well as Paul Newlove with his match-winning interception try on the 74th minute, which memorably sent the crowd into raptures as England sealed a 20-16 victory.
Other results meant the sides would meet again in the Final, but Australia proved too strong in this one, as they went on to achieve a fifth consecutive World Cup title.
2013 World Cup opener
The 2013 World Cup opener saw another close contest between England and Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.
England scored four tries to Australia’s five, initially building up a 10-0 lead with early scores from Ryan Hall and Leroy Cudjoe. These were soon cancelled out by tries from Johnathan Thurston, Greg Bird and Billy Slater as the Kangaroos went 18-10 up at the break.
Brett Morris scored shortly after the restart but George Burgess - one of three Burgess brothers to feature for England - scored to keep alive a scintillating encounter.
A late Darius Boyd try assured the Kangaroos of victory, before Josh Charnley went over for a consolation as the game finished 28-20.
2014 Four Nations
The second game of the 2014 Four Nations brought all the theatre, as a dramatic last-minute decision went against England to help Australia hold on and stay in the competition.
Ryan Hall had a try agonisingly disallowed in the dying moments of the game, consigning England to a 16-12 defeat in Melbourne.
Earlier, Australia led through Michael Jennings's try, but England hit back with tries from Kallum Watkins and Hall.
Ben Hunt scored on his Australia debut, and it was Greg Inglis who went in for the eventual match-winner.
And despite Hall getting on the end of Liam Farrell's kick and appearing to touch down, the video referee ruled that Hall did not have control of or any downward pressure on the ball and therefore did not have sufficient evidence to overrule the on-field referee’s decision.
2017 World Cup Final
In their most recent meeting – and one of the most highly competitive, Australia lifted the Rugby League World Cup trophy for a record eleventh time, beating England 6–0 on home soil.
It was England’s first time competing in a World Cup Final for 22 years, and was the lowest scoring final in World Cup history.
Fans will remember watching this tight and nervy encounter, as the Kangaroos edged out England at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
England produced a resilient performance against a team who were the overwhelming favourites, with just Boyd Cordner’s solo try separating the two sides.
There were endless chances for England, but they were unable to break down Australia’s defence. And there was no moment that summed this up more than a desperate but brilliant ankle tap by Josh Dugan on Kallum Watkins in the second half after the England centre had broken through the defensive line.
But Watkins couldn’t quite capitalise, and as England continued to frantically throw the ball around in the dying minutes, they couldn’t quite muster a score.
What’s your favourite ever England memory? And what epic action will unfold in this year's Ashes series?
The ABK Beer Ashes Series will be played on three consecutive Saturday afternoons – October 25, November 1 and November 8 – with each kicking off at 230pm (GMT) and shown live on BBC One.
The venues combine the rich Rugby League and Ashes heritage of Wembley and Headingley with an exciting new stadium for the sport – the state-of-the-art development on Liverpool’s waterfront which will become Everton Football Club’s new home this summer.
With huge demand expected, fans are urged to pre-register before 23:59pm on Tuesday 1st April for early access to the best-priced tickets through a priority window opening on Wednesday 2nd April (12pm) - before they go on general sale on April 14.
Fans can pre-register their interest HERE.
