England Head Coach Shaun Wane Eager to Prioritize Ashes Series in 2025 Rugby League Calendar
England head coach Shaun Wane is hopeful that the prospect of a home Ashes series can take priority over Super League’s scheduling in 2025. Wane has even endorsed the return of old-school midweek tour matches, a move that could help accommodate both domestic and international fixtures.
For years, international rugby league has consistently played second fiddle to domestic scheduling on both sides of the world. However, with growing momentum behind several national teams, the speculation around a Kangaroos tour of England in 2024 has sparked renewed interest in the international game.
Wane was quick to share his memories of past Kangaroos tours, emphasizing his desire to see the Ashes series take center stage in 2025. He is optimistic that international rugby will be given priority by the sport’s organizers, potentially including traditional midweek tour games against club sides – an idea Mal Meninga himself has recently endorsed.
“On squad numbers, it’s not impossible. You can play midweek games if your numbers are good and we’d be up for it. I think we’d have to be up for that,” Wane said. “We need to make it fit and we need to build the calendar around this next year. We need to nail this. The interest what the World Cup drove tells you everything about how people love the international game.”
Wane also stressed the importance of ensuring a proper allocation of time for the England setup during the 2025 Super League campaign, in contrast to the “shambolic” mid-season international window experienced this year.
“That period is so, so important that we nail it,” Wane said. “Whatever we decide to do, that mid-season international for the Knights and the senior squad, it’s vital. It needs to be of Test match intensity and that would help me massively.”
Unsurprisingly, Wane expressed his excitement at the prospect of facing the Australians in a three-match Ashes series, something he was supposed to do in 2020 before the Covid-19 pandemic forced the cancellation of the Kangaroos tour.
“For me, I was brought up on Australia and New Zealand (touring) in the 70s and 80s,” he said. “I remember getting the job and when Ralph (Rimmer) said my first series was against Australia, I couldn’t believe my luck. I was devastated when it happened so for them to travel here is unbelievable. I’m so excited, I can’t wait for it now.”
🔗 Source
