{"id":917041,"date":"2026-10-05T13:56:13","date_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:56:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/917041\/"},"modified":"2026-10-05T13:56:13","modified_gmt":"2026-10-05T13:56:13","slug":"england-confirm-rugby-league-world-cup-squad-with-10-nrl-players-4-debutants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/917041\/","title":{"rendered":"England confirm Rugby League World Cup squad with 10 NRL players, 4 debutants"},"content":{"rendered":"


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England<\/a> have confirmed their squad for the 2026 Rugby League World Cup<\/a>, featuring zero players from premiers Wakefield Trinity<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The move is sure to raise eyebrows in England<\/a>, with the 23-man squad featuring ten NRL<\/a> players and four debutants.<\/p>\n

Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a> prop Max King<\/a> and Brisbane Broncos<\/a> counterpart Ben Talty<\/a> fit in to both of those categories, with Zach Eckersley from Wigan and teammate Sam Walters the other two debutants.<\/p>\n

Related Coverage<\/p>\n

King and Talty are joined in the side by AJ Brimson<\/a>, Herbie Farnworth<\/a>, Kai Pearce-Paul<\/a> who returns from injury, Roosters premiership winners Victor Radley<\/a> and Hugo Savala<\/a>, Perth Bears-bound Morgan Smithies<\/a> and Newcastle winger Dominic Young<\/a> as the NRL<\/a> group in the squad.<\/p>\n

The biggest shock for England<\/a> is Jake Connor<\/a> missing out on the squad despite coming up with a staggering 43 try assists during the year. It’s the second year in a row he has missed the side.<\/p>\n

Other familiar faces include former NRL<\/a> forward Luke Thompson<\/a>, while the English side have plenty of usual suspects led by Dolphins-bound George Williams<\/a> and Jack Welsby<\/a>.<\/p>\n

England squad for 2026 Rugby League World Cup<\/p>\n

Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves<\/a>)
AJ Brimson<\/a> (Gold Coast Titans<\/a>)
Ben Currie<\/a> (Warrington Wolves<\/a>)
Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)*
Herbie Farnworth<\/a> (The Dolphins<\/a>)
Ethan Havard<\/a> (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)
Max King<\/a> (Canterbury Bulldogs<\/a>)*
Morgan Knowles<\/a> (The Dolphins<\/a>)
Mikey Lewis<\/a> (Hull KR<\/a>)
Jez Litten<\/a> (Hull KR<\/a>)
Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)
Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)
Kai Pearce-Paul<\/a> (Wests Tigers<\/a>)
Victor Radley<\/a> (Sydney Roosters<\/a>)
Hugo Savala<\/a> (Sydney Roosters<\/a>)
Harry Smith<\/a> (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)
Morgan Smithies<\/a> (Canberra Raiders<\/a>)
Ben Talty<\/a> (Brisbane Broncos<\/a>)*
Luke Thompson<\/a> (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)
Sam Walters (Wigan Warriors<\/a>)*
Jack Welsby<\/a> (St Helens<\/a>)
George Williams<\/a> (Warrington Wolves<\/a>)
Dominic Young<\/a> (Newcastle Knights<\/a>)<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n


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\n \"Scott<\/a><\/p>\n

Scott has been Zero Tackle’s editor since 2021, having actively worked in sports media from 2014. Scott is a lifelong Dragons fan, and umpires cricket on the weekends.<\/p>\n

\t
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