England Men’s Head Coach Brian McDermott has named his playing squad for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup fixture against France in Perth (7.35 KO).
There is one change to the wider 22-man squad named for last weekend’s World Cup opener against Tonga, with Leeds Rhinos’ Kallum Watkins coming in for Dolphins forward Morgan Knowles who was a late withdrawal last time.
Knowles has not yet recovered from injury and McDermott has provisionally selected the same matchday 19 to take on the French as England seek to get off the mark.
George Williams will once more captain his country.
Teams will name six-person interchange benches throughout the Rugby League World Cup, with only four of those players actually being allowed to enter the field of play.
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England Men v France
1) AJ Brimson
2) Dom Young
3) Hugo Savala
4) Herbie Farnworth
5) Zach Eckersley
6) George Williams
7) Harry Smith
8) Max King
9) Brad O’Neill
10) Luke Thompson
11) Junior Nsemba
12) Kai Pearce-Paul
13) Victor Radley
14) Jez Litten
15) Ben Currie
16) Ethan Havard
17) Sam Walters
18) Jack Welsby
19) Matty Ashton
20) Kallum Watkins
21) Mikey Lewis
22) Ben Talty
