England have named seven uncapped players in their 24-man squad for the Rugby League World Cup, including the Salford duo of Marc Sneyd and Andy Ackers. The Guardian revealed on Thursday that Sneyd and Ackers were set to win their first international call-ups for the tournament after impressing head coach Shaun Wane with their end-of-season form at the Red Devils.
They have been joined by more five players hoping to win their first Test caps as England look to win the World Cup for the first time following a narrow defeat to Australia in the 2017 final. The NRL-based trio of Brisbane Broncos center Herbie Farnworth, Newcastle winger Dom Young and Sydney Roosters forward Victor Radley have all been named in an England squad for the first time, as has Wigan Warriors forward Kai Pearce-Paul.
Joe Batchelor, who made his first international appearance in a non-Test against the Combined Nations All Stars this summer, is also included in Wane’s 24. Catalans Dragons full-back Sam Tomkins will, as expected, captain the side, but Wane has been unable to call on a number of frontline players for the tournament, which begins for England against Samoa at St James’ Park, Newcastle, on 15 October.
There are five members of the St Helens side who won a fourth consecutive Super League title last weekend but Jonny Lomax, Mark Percival and Alex Walmsley have all withdrawn due to injury. Eight members of the side who reached the World Cup final five years ago are included, with South Sydney’s Tom Burgess one of four players who will be appearing in their third World Cup.
Sneyd and Ackers are among those expected to win their first caps next Friday in England’s one and only warm-up game for the tournament against Fiji in Salford. “After so many conversations with the players over the last two years, it’s exciting for all of us to be getting ready to go into camp for a home World Cup,” Wane said.
“The mood of the players and staff is fantastic. The opening match against Samoa in Newcastle is going to be a massive occasion, and I know English rugby league fans and the sporting public will get behind us.”
www.theguardian.com
George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism