Clue yourself up on England and Australia's most recent match-ups, as we count down the days to the opening ABK Beer Ashes test at Wembley Stadium! This will be the rivals' first meeting since 2017...
England and Australia have formed a fierce rivalry over the years, but this autumn's hotly anticipated and historic ABK Beer Ashes series will be their first meeting since 2017.
Their rivalry will finally be reignited on Saturday 25 October, and it's 22 years since the previous Rugby League Ashes Series took place, which was then contested by Great Britain.
Australia enjoyed a 3-0 victory over Great Britain in 2003 - following three fiercely and closely contested test matches.
Great Britain's rivalry with Australia dates all the way back to 1908 in the first ever Ashes Series. The Lions last beat them in an Ashes test back in 2001, and also defeated the Kangaroos in a 2006 Tri-Nations game.
This will be the first Ashes that England have not played as Great Britain, as the series makes its highly welcomed return.
Under the England brand, the Kangaroos last paid a visit to English soil in the 2016 Four Nations tournament, in which the visitors emerged 36-18 victors at The London Stadium.
Their last victory against the Aussies as England came in the opening match of the 1995 World Cup, and they have since come close on numerous occasions on either side of the world.
There have been countless blood and thunder battles between the two nations, but as we prepare for Saturday, 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 England's 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.
Pure heartbreak, as England came so agonisingly close.
What’s your favourite ever England memory? And what epic action will unfold in this year's Ashes series?
Rivalries will be reignited when England take on Australia in the ABK Beer Rugby League Ashes which starts THIS SATURDAY! The two nations will meet in a three-match test series over 20 years in the making and with the second and third test completely SOLD OUT; Wembley Stadium on Saturday 25 October is your only place to watch this fierce rivalry live!
There's still time to book your Wembley tickets here with prices starting from just £20 for adults and £10 for U16’s.
The three-game Ashes Series will also be shown live on the BBC.
