Kevin Sinfield: There’s an appetite for more internationals

England’s Rugby director Kevin Sinfield says there is an appetite amongst the players to play more internationals.

The significant news that the Great Britain tour will go ahead in 2019, followed by the visit of Australia for an Ashes Series in 2020 means that there is international rugby league in the calendar in the build up to the 2021 World Cup.

But in the Super League fixtures, there has been no space left for a mid-season international.

Speaking at a 2021 World Cup event, Sinfield said: “As we saw in Denver in particular, the appetite not only for our Super League based players, but our NRL players, to play internationals and wear that badge means as much as it’s ever done.

“I think players will play under any circumstance. I don’t think players will complain that there’s too many games. I never found that myself, especially if you’ve got an opportunity to wear an England shirt.

“I know there’s a heavy influence in the NRL from a players’ union and we don’t quite have that over here in the UK at this moment in time, but there’s certainly an appetite for more internationals.

“The players love being in camp, they love being in that environment and they enjoy playing together.

“All players want to play, there’s what we’re there for.

“It’s the best part of the week game day, and you get to put your country’s colours on in front of 30 odd thousand.

“Why wouldn’t you want to play in big stadiums for your country in a huge sporting event? It’s what we all want to be part of.”

Sinfield is expected to stay on with England beyond the end of his contract, which is up at the end of this year, despite his role as director of rugby at Leeds.