International Rugby League Within Reach: England Men and Women to Face France in Toulouse

England’s National Teams Gear Up for Crucial Matches

As the rugby league international calendar nears, England’s national teams are gearing up for a crucial double-header against France in Toulouse. Head coach Shaun Wane has provided some insights into his selection process, hinting at changes to the lineup that secured a 3-0 series victory over Tonga late last year.

Wane acknowledged that the squad for the France fixtures will look “much different” from the one that dominated Tonga, emphasizing a focus on form and younger players. “People like George Williams and Jack Welsby, they’ve got credits in the bank, they’re good players,” the coach stated. “But it will be a younger team, there’s no doubt about that.”

“The French are going to be strong. They’ve got an anniversary coming up, it’s in Toulouse, they’ll be very, very good,” he said, revealing that the national team will likely feature players from the domestic Super League club, Catalans Dragons.

The selection dilemma extends to the halves, where established stars like Williams, Mikey Lewis, Harry Smith, and Marc Sneyd will vie for starting roles. Wane emphasized that he closely monitors the performances of all players and is not afraid to have tough conversations if standards slip below the “England standard.”

With the Rugby League World Cup on the horizon, Wane’s focus appears to be on building a youthful and in-form squad capable of making a strong impression in the global tournament. “We’re going to pick a form for the French game that will be an element of looking for the younger end, making sure that we go for the World Cup,” he concluded.

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