It’s been a long time coming — 22 years, to be exact — but rugby league’s most storied rivalry is finally back. This Saturday at Wembley, England will take on Australia in the first of a
three-test “Ashes” series, marking the first full meeting between the two giants of the game since 2003.
The challenge? Overturning more than five decades of Australian dominance.
The last time a British side lifted the Ashes trophy was in 1970 — before most of today’s players were even born. Since then, the Kangaroos have strung together an incredible 13 straight series wins, asserting their dominance over the sport’s birthplace.
A long-awaited return
Nobody seems entirely sure why it’s taken more than two decades to get a proper three-match series back on the calendar. But one thing’s clear — fans are thrilled. Over 60,000 supporters are expected at Wembley for the opener, with the remaining two tests — at Everton’s new stadium and Leeds’ Headingley — already sold out.
If England want to make sure it doesn’t take another 20 years for the next series, they’ll need to show they can go toe-to-toe with the world’s deepest rugby league nation. After all, as some like to joke, Australia could probably field four teams good enough to make a World Cup semi-final.
Despite their long drought, British sides have rarely been blown away. Even during the 2003 whitewash, they led in all three games — losing each by just a single score. England know they can compete. What they need now is belief.
Kangaroos bring fresh faces and familiar firepower
Australia head coach Kevin Walters has selected a squad blending experience with exciting new talent. Three players — Reece Walsh, Gehamat Shibasaki, and Mark Nawaqanitawase — are set to make their international debuts, while Keaon Koloamatangi, who recently switched allegiance from Tonga, will start from the bench.
Walsh, the electric fullback from the Brisbane Broncos, was named man of the match in the NRL Grand Final three weeks ago. Meanwhile, Nawaqanitawase — a former rugby union star who featured in the 2023 Rugby World Cup — finished last NRL season as the league’s top try-scorer.
“Every member of our squad, whether they take the field or not, is about to experience something incredibly special this Saturday at Wembley,” Walters said. “We’re on this Ashes journey together, and it’s going to take a collective effort from everyone involved.”
England out to prove a point
Australia are, unsurprisingly, heavy favourites to make it 14 consecutive Ashes series victories. But England captain George Williams insists his team isn’t intimidated.
“They think they’re superior to us — and to be fair, Australia have earned that confidence after beating England for so long,” Williams told The Guardian. “But this is the best England team we’ve had in a long, long time. So we’re coming for them.”
Whether that confidence translates into ending a 55-year Ashes drought remains to be seen. But one thing’s for sure — when England and Australia collide under the Wembley lights, history will be watching. Photo by Peter Edwards from Cambridge, United Kingdom, Wikimedia commons.