England wheelchair RL's Ashes tour set for autumn
England's two-Test wheelchair rugby league Ashes series in Australia has been set for October and November.The world champions will face the Wheelaroos, fourth in the global rankings, on 30 October and 2 November, with both matches on the Gold Coast.They will warm up with two matches against state sides - New South Wales in Sydney on 24 October and Queensland on the Sunshine Coast on 27 October.It means England now have a confirmed schedule for a four-match tour that was initially announced, external - without dates - in December.This will be the England wheelchair team's first trip to Australia since 2019, when they beat their hosts 84-28 in Sydney and 58-20 in Wollongong to win a two-Test series.They last met Australia at London's Copper Box in November 2022, winning 38-8 in their opening match at the World Cup, which England went on to win."We are excited to have confirmation of an Ashes Tour at the end of the year," said Martin Coyd, England wheelchair rugby league's general manager."It will be a significant event in its own right, as playing Australia on their own territory is always a major challenge, and one that our England players will relish."England played three matches in 2024, beating world number two side France 66-33 in the first in Wigan in October. They then travelled to France in November, defeating Spain 58-28 before losing 32-28 to their hosts.
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