Shaun Wane names 40-man extended squad ahead of French test
England boss Shaun Wane has named a strong 40-man extended squad ahead of the mid-season international test with France at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.
The two sides will meet in Warrington as part of a double-header on April 29. England Women face France at 2pm, followed by the Men’s match at 4.30pm.
Drawn from eight Super League clubs, the squad includes a total of 20 players who are previously uncapped for England.
Man of Steel leader George Williams has been included alongside seven Warrington team-mates, including calls-ups for Matty Nicholson, Josh Thewlis and Danny Walker, who have all previously represented England Knights.
Also promoted from the Knights set-up are Hull KR duo Mikey Lewis and Jez Litten, who join Jordan Abdull as three Rovers representatives in the squad.
Will Pryce (Huddersfield), Ethan Havard (Wigan) and Tyler Dupree (Salford) are the other three players who come into the senior squad from Paul Anderson’s Knights
Wane will be without any players from the NRL for the upcoming mid-season international, while seven players have been omitted from his 2021 World Cup squad, including captain Sam Tomkins, who will retire at the end of 2023.
Shaun Wane: Squad selection with World Cup 2025 World Cup in mind
Wane said: “I’ve selected a very young extended squad this time around and that is very much with the 2025 World Cup in France in mind.
“There are still several experienced players within the squad who featured in last year’s World Cup, and others who could come back in. I am hoping the more experienced cohort help those younger players adapt and thrive in an international camp which will be very demanding.
“As always, the squad will be fluid, and players will be added if they are performing well and vice versa should performances dip.
“I think the squad really shows the depth of talent across the Betfred Super League, which plenty of people saw in person and on TV across the Easter Weekend.
“The mid-season international against France is the first step on the road to the next Rugby League World Cup and we are hoping to begin the journey in front of a packed house at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.”
Shaun Wane’s 40-man squad
Jordan Abdull (Hull KR)
Andy Ackers (Salford Red Devils)
Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves)
Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves)
Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
Tom Davies (Catalans Dragons)
Tyler Dupree (Salford Red Devils)
Lewis Dodd (St Helens)
Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Gannon (Leeds Rhinos)
Ash Handley (Leeds Rhinos)
James Harrison (Warrington Wolves)
Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)
Chris Hill (Huddersfield Giants)
Tom Holroyd (Leeds Rhinos)
Tom Johnstone (Catalans Dragons)
Toby King (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Knowles (St Helens)
Matty Lees (St Helens)
Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
Jez Litten (Hull KR)
Jonny Lomax (St Helens)
Tommy Makinson (St Helens)
Liam Marshall (Wigan Warriors)
Mike McMeeken (Catalans Dragons)
Harry Newman (Leeds Rhinos)
Matty Nicholson (Warrington Wolves)
Mikolaj Oledzki (Leeds Rhinos)
Kai Pearce-Paul (Wigan Warriors)
Mark Percival (St Helens)
Will Pryce (Huddersfield Giants)
Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
Morgan Smithies (Wigan Warriors)
Josh Thewlis (Warrington Wolves)
Danny Walker (Warrington Wolves)
Alex Walmsley (St Helens)
Jake Wardle (Wigan Warriors)
Jack Welsby (St Helens)
George Williams (Warrington Wolves)
Oliver Wilson (Huddersfield Giants)
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