Australia will tour England for the first time since 2003 this autumn, with Everton’s new stadium to stage one of the three Tests. The Kangaroos will take on Shaun Wane’s side in three matches at Wembley, Bramley-Moore Dock and Headingley on 25 October, 1 November and 8 November, respectively.
England have not faced Australia since the 2017 World Cup final, which the Kangaroos won 6-0, with Samoa shocking the hosts in the semi-finals in 2022 at the Emirates Stadium.
The Australian Rugby League Commission chairman, Peter V’landys, said: “We are proud to revive one of the great rugby league traditions with the first Ashes series and Kangaroo tour of England in 22 years. The ARLC believes in the international game and the Commission was behind this historic tour to support the growth of the game in the north.
“Kangaroos tours are an iconic part of rugby league folklore and have always delivered thrilling contests. The current generation of Kangaroos players have never experienced the magic of a Kangaroos tour and I’m delighted that they will have a chance to cement their own legacy alongside the greats of the past.”
Rhodri Jones, Rugby League commercial managing director, said: “This is the news we’ve all been waiting for – everyone in the England set-up and tens of thousands of England rugby league fans. We welcome back Mal Meninga and the Kangaroos to England for an Ashes series and we have three fantastic venues which will showcase the very best of international rugby league.”
Australia have won the past 13 Ashes series since 1970, when they played Great Britain rather than England. The Kangaroos won the 2022 World Cup final at Old Trafford on their last trip to the UK.
Wembley was the venue for two of Great Britain’s most notable wins over Australia, in 1990 and 1994, the latter best remembered for a superb Jonathan Davies try after GB’s captain, Shaun Edwards, was sent off in the first half.
The attendance in 1994 was a record 57,034 and the three-match series – won 2-1 by Australia – attracted a total of 140,432, also a record.
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The news comes during turmoil at the top of the sport in England after the former Rugby Football League chief executive Nigel Wood returned to the governing body to lead a strategic review this month.