After the success of the Rugby League World Cup, it was somewhat dispiriting that the Super League season began, yet again, with no autumn international programme in place for later this year. Fans were assured that things were different now, that under the new IMG regime such seemingly shambolic organisation was a thing of the past. On this occasion, though, it is not the RFL’s fault: the ongoing standoff between the NRL and players’ association in Australia over their collective bargaining agreement has prevented the Asia-Pacific nations from confirming their international plans.
However, England know they will play at least three internationals in October and November: against Ireland, Scotland and (pray for them) Serbia in the European Championship. England will expect to top their group in the eight-team tournament and then face France – who have been drawn against Wales, Italy and Spain in Group B – in the final on Saturday 21 November.
In rugby league, the Euros lie well below the World Cup and series between the top nations as far as status goes. In contrast with the turbo engine that is the Six Nations, rugby league’s elite European international competition is no more than a hubcap on the northern hemisphere’s commercial vehicle. But as Theodore Roosevelt remarked, comparison is the thief of joy, and league’s Euros has little acorns of quirky delight to be relished.
For a start, unlike the Six Nations’ closed shop, league’s Euros is typically egalitarian. In theory, every European member-nation can work their way up from the C and B into the A competition. Spain and Serbia have been given their chance this year, and two teams will be relegated for the 2026 event to make way for those promoted from the B championship this autumn, which features Greece, Germany, Netherlands, Norway, Ukraine and Czech Republic. The broader nature of the tournament means fans can make rare excursions to Edinburgh, Cardiff and Dublin as well as potentially Belgrade, Valencia and Udine.
There are also World Cup places up for grabs: the top two teams who have not already qualified – all of them but England and hosts France – will earn places for the next event in 2025. The other four teams will have a second chance in the European qualifying round next year.
Do not expect England superstars such as Jack Welsby, Alex Walmsley and Jonny Lomax to appear at the Euros. Instead the team will be made up of Super League’s finest emerging talents and fringe players. The “England Knights” title does not sell tickets, sponsorship or TV deals, so they will be called “England”,even if Shaun Wane’s first-choice XIII is concurrently hosting a touring Pacific nation, as planned. That’s if Wane is still England boss in the autumn, given his contract is up and the RFL have been discussing how to proceed before the next World Cup. Wane sent his assistant, Paul Anderson – the England Knights coach – to the draw.
With each men’s team having to name 35 players for the Euros, Wane could use England’s opening game on the weekend of 20-22 October as a warm-up for their proposed match against Pacific tourists, fielding the usual “half and half” team without the players who appeared in the Grand Final or their NRL contingent. For the rest of the tournament, Anderson will lead a weaker Knights-esque team.
Even a young England side should romp past Serbia and have too much for Scotland – the Knights beat them 28-4 in October – but a full-strength Ireland could push them all the way. Ireland and Scotland should have their Super League stars on deck, but the five-figure cost will almost certainly put the kibosh on flying over their Australian-based players. Do not expect Luke Keary to be steering Ireland around the park against Serbia.
Serbia and Spain will be considered cannon fodder, but the latter will likely field several Catalan talents while the former could really do with – finally –luring new Hull KR signing Tom Obacic and some of the three Trbojevic brothers to represent their fatherland. Neither side will have any issues meeting the domestic quota ruling, which requires four of the 17 players to have been raised in the nation’s own system, but the rule could be a major challenge for Scotland and Ireland and is the reason Italy took four local players to last year’s World Cup.
Each nation has expressed a desire to stage either one or two home games and the ERL executive will decide who plays where. Italy have only played in front of their own fans twice since 2016, so want twoopportunities now, likewise France, who need more events to build their profile before the World Cup. The RFL have expressed a wish to expose their players and staff to unfamiliar environments to prepare them for overseas tournaments, so expect England to travel to Serbia.
This will be the 35th edition of the European Championship, which began in 1935 and has changed name, format and profile over time, with as few as three teams competing some years. An annual tournament in the 1930s, 1950s, and 2000s, the Euros vanished in the 1980s and now it is supposed to be biannual. Between France winning the 2018 tournament and the 2026 version there should have been three. Instead, thanks to the pandemic, this year will be the only one.
At least England have entered this time. After thrashing Wales 80-12 in 2012, the RFL decided France were the only European nation worth playing, but the rise of the Pacific nations has created a major issue for the RFL. Australia and New Zealand no longer need to travel halfway around the world to face high quality opposition, so England’s decision to ignore their neighbours has left them with only France capable of giving them a challenge.
Wales will quietly fancy causing an upset in their group. Although they lost all three group games at the World Cup, they came out of the tournament feeling as satisfied as any of the home nations. With few Super League players and none from the NRL, John Kear created a team far greater than the sum of its parts, that should go into games with Italy and Spain as favourites.
Winners seven times, the Dragonhearts have a proud record in the European Championship and since 2010 have won half of their 20 games against sides who from the same continent. A home nations table over that period – without England – would have France top (won 13, lost three), Wales second (9-7), with Ireland (6-13) just edging ahead of Scotland (4-11). None of them though, has beaten England this century – only Italy can lay claim to that – and the favourites will expect to extend their 21-match winning streak against France come the final.
Who will be watching is another matter. The Euros have been stuck in a catch-22 situation for two decades: they need commercial revenue to build the profile of the competition and attract star players, yet the top players do not come partly because there is a lack of interest from sponsors and broadcasters. Given the cost of staging games, most governing rent cheap venues, have tiny marketing budgets and attract paltry crowds. England’s presence could break that cycle.
One more thing
While 11 Englishmen and a Kilted Kiwi were helping St Helens pull off a stunning win in the World Club Challenge, there were other familiar names on teamsheets throughout the NRL’s pre-season challenge. Several of the nine England players in action have new employers: Oliver Gildart formed a centre partnership with Scotland’s Euan Aitken at new NRL franchise the Dolphins, and Ryan Sutton played alongside Luke Thompson at Canterbury Bulldogs. Then there were the Hodgsons: Uncle Josh made his debut for Parramatta Eels and nephew Bailey, after two injury-wrecked seasons since leaving Castleford, showed encouraging signs at full-back for Newcastle Knights, for whom Jackson Hastings had a busy debut.
But contender for performance of the pre-season was Italy’s World Cup centre Daniel Atkinson, making his Cronulla debut at full-back against Newcastle. Don’t say we didn’t tell you.
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