2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England explained

Date:22 October – 4 November 2023
Tour:2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England
Coach:Kristian Woolf
Captain:Addin Fonua-Blake
Top Point Scorer:Toluta'u Koula (8)
Top Try Scorer:Toluta'u Koula (2)
Matchplayed:3
Matchwon:0
Matchdraw:0
Matchlost:3
Played1:3
Won1:0
Draw1:0
Lost1:3

The 2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England was a three-match tour by the Tonga national rugby league team to England in October and November 2023.[1] [2]

Background

Official rankings ahead of the tour[3]
RankTeam
480.00
556.00

The tour was the first by a Pacific island nation to England and the first test match series between the two countries.[4] England and Tonga had only played each other three times previously, twice during the 2006 Federation Shield and during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final. All three games were won by England. Tonga however, beat Great Britain during the 2019 Lions tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.[5]

Venues

St HelensHuddersfieldLeeds
Totally Wicked StadiumKirklees Stadium
Capacity: 18,000 Capacity: 24,121 Capacity: 21,500

Squads

England

The England squad was announced on 17 October 2023.[6] Morgan Smithies and Josh Thewlis were added on 31 October.[7]

width=50% Playerwidth=50% Club
Matty AshtonWarrington Wolves
John BatemanWests Tigers
Tom BurgessSouth Sydney Rabbitohs
Daryl ClarkWarrington Wolves
Ben CurrieWarrington Wolves
Tyler DupreeWigan Warriors
Liam FarrellWigan Warriors
Chris HillHuddersfield Giants
Tom JohnstoneCatalans Dragons
Toby KingWigan Warriors
Morgan KnowlesSt Helens
Matty LeesSt Helens
Mikey LewisHull KR
Tommy MakinsonSt Helens
Mike McMeekenCatalans Dragons
Robbie MulhernLeigh Leopards
Harry NewmanLeeds Rhinos
Victor RadleySydney Roosters
Harry SmithWigan Warriors
Morgan SmithiesCanberra Raiders
Josh ThewlisWarrington Wolves
Danny WalkerWarrington Wolves
Jack WelsbySt Helens
Elliott WhiteheadCanberra Raiders
George Williams (C)Warrington Wolves
Dom YoungNewcastle Knights

Tonga

Squad announced on 4 October 2023.[8]

width=50% Playerwidth=50% Club
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
(C)New Zealand Warriors
Gold Coast Titans
Newcastle Knights
South Sydney Rabbitohs
St Helens
St Helens
Melbourne Storm
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Huddersfield Giants
Parramatta Eels
South Sydney Rabbitohs
St. George Illawarra Dragons
South Sydney Rabbitohs
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Wests Tigers
Sydney Roosters
Sydney Roosters

Matches

First test

Second test

Third test

The third test match of the series was played at Headingley Stadium as a double header with an England vs Wales women's international test match.[9]

Broadcasting

All three matches of the tour were broadcast live on BBC One, except in Wales where the first two matches of the test series were shown on BBC Two Wales.[10] [11]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: England to host Tonga in maiden Test series . 28 April 2023 . BBC Sport . 28 April 2023.
  2. Web site: England to host Tonga in three-match Test series . National Rugby League . 28 April 2023 . 28 April 2023.
  3. Web site: 27 July 2023. SERBIA, PHILIPPINES, WALES BIG MOVERS IN IRL WORLD RANKINGS.
  4. Web site: England to host Tonga in three-game Test series. April 28, 2023. National Rugby League.
  5. Web site: Great Britain beaten on Test return. www.bbc.co.uk.
  6. Web site: England vs Tonga: Wigan Warriors captain Liam Farrell returns for Test series as Shaun Wane names squad. Sky Sports. 22 October 2023.
  7. Web site: England v Tonga: Hosts 'obsessed' with series clean sweep says head coach Shaun Wane . BBC Sport . 3 November 2023 . 31 October 2023.
  8. News: Three Super League players named in Tonga squad for England series but big names missing . 9 October 2023 . . 4 October 2023.
  9. Web site: Women’s home nations clash confirmed: England to take on Wales at Headingley. www.rugby-league.com. 22 October 2023.
  10. News: England rugby league: BBC TV to show five international matches this autumn . 9 September 2023 . BBC Sport . 8 September 2023 . en.
  11. News: BBC Sport to broadcast five England international fixtures, including end-of-year Tonga series . 8 September 2023 . LoveRugbyLeague . 8 September 2023 . en.