England national rugby league team

In rugby league England is represented in the World Cup (1977, 1995, 2000) and the World Sevens (2002, 2003). With the exception of the 1995 World Cup, matches involving England are not deemed to have test status, English players instead representing Great Britain.

The England team is run under the auspices of the Rugby Football League, as are the Wales, Scotland, Ireland and Great Britain teams.

Crest

The badge of the national rugby league team of England is a culmination of St. George's cross, the Three Lions Coat of Arms of England and Tudor Rose.

The St. George's cross, the national flag of England is a red cross on a white background, it was adopted for the uniform of English soldiers during Crusades of the 11th, 12th and 13th centuries and in or about 1277 is when it officially became the national flag of England. However with the 1707 Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain was recognised and a Union Flag was created. The flag of England is used now to represent England alone. The English coat of arms was introduced by Richard I of England in the 1190s. The rose on the badge is the Tudor rose, which was introduced by Henry Tudor, who ended the War of the Roses, between Lancashire(red rose) and Yorkshire(white rose), this action was symbolic of the end of the War of the Roses.

The primal properties in the badge are reoccurring in most English sporting badges, such as the England national football team, England national rugby union team and the English national cricket team which all promote similar attributes.

History

The current England team shirt

On the 5th April 1904, England versus 'Other Nationalities' (Welsh & Scottish) play a 12-a-side match at Wigan, which England lose 9-3.

England first played at the World Cup in 1975, which was played over several months in both hemispheres on a league basis. England won one and drew the other of their two games against eventual winners Australia. Due to England's defeat by Wales in their final match, Australia took the trophy by finishing one point ahead of England.

In the 1995 World Cup England reached the final, losing 16-8 to Australia at Wembley Stadium.

Compared to 1995, England had little success in the World Cup in 2000, losing their opening game at Twickenham 22-2 to Australia. England won their remaining two pool games against Fiji and Russia. A surprising display by Ireland in the quarter-finals, saw England scrape through to the semi-finals 26-16. England then lost 49-6 to New Zealand at Bolton and were knocked out of the tournament.

In 2002 England toured Fiji and Tonga under coach John Kear

Karl Harrison became England coach in July 2004 replacing John Kear. He led England to European Nations Cup success in 2004 and coached them to a win over France and a narrow defeat by New Zealand in 2005. [1]. Harrison stepped down citing family reasons in August 2006 and was replaced by Paul Cullen.[2]

England will take part in the Federation Shield in autumn 2006 when Great Britain are involved in the Tri-Nations.

In 2007 the Great Britain Lions will be split up into four nations following the 2006 Tri-Nations, from there after, Great Britain will only play on special occasions and tours. In 2007 England will be the premier rugby league team in England, as opposed to Great Britain, they will be playing a touring New Zealand Kiwis team in a three match series in England as preparation for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.

England has been granted automatic qualification to the 2008 World Cup.

Statistics

Team

• Highest score:76-4 v Russia at St. Helens (World Cup)1 November 2000
• Widest winning margain: 76-4 v Russia at St. Helens (World Cup)1 November 2000
• Highest against: 49-6 v New Zealand at Bolton (World Cup), 18 November 2000
• Highest losing margain: 49-6 v New Zealand at Bolton (World Cup), 18 November 2000

Individual

• Most tries in a match: 4 by Jim Leytham (Wigan) v Other Nationalities at Bradford, 2 January 1905, Stan Moorhouse (Huddersfield) v Wales at Plymouth, 15 February 1913, Peter Norburn (Swinton) v Other Nationalities at Wigan, 28 November 1953, Keith Fielding (Salford) v France at Bordeaux, 11 October 1975, Stuart Wright (Widnes) v Wales at St. Helens, 28 May 1978, Martin Offiah (Wigan) v France at Gateshead, 12 June 1996
• Most goals in a match: 9 by Geoff Pimblett (St. Helens) v Wales at St. Helens, 28 May 1978, Andrew Farrell (Wigan) v Fiji (World Cup) at Leeds, 4 November 2000
• Most points in a match: 22 (2t, 7g) by Steve Prescott (St. Helens) v France at Gateshead, 12 June 1996, (1t, 9g) by Andrew Farrell (Wigan) v Fiji (World Cup) at Leeds, 4 November 2000

Other

• Biggest home attendance: 66,540 v Australia at Wembley (World Cup Final), 28 October 1995

Other England Teams

In addition to the England team, there has also been an England "Lionhearts" and England A team selected since 2002.

England A

The England A is team selected up and coming players from the Super League who are not yet ready for selection in the Great Britain team. In 2003 and 2004 England A participated in the European Nations Cup.

England "Lionhearts"

The England "Lionhearts" team is selected from players in the Rugby League Conference. It competes against Wales A, Scotland A "Bravehearts" and Ireland A "Wolfhounds" each year in the Amateur Four Nations competition. The Lionhearts played the Malta Knights, in what was the first ever rugby league game played in Malta, at Marsa Stadium in October 2005. The Lionhearts lost 36-6. On May 6, 2006 the English Lionhearts played Serbia in Pancevo and won 50-4.

Famous players

• Billy Batten
• Shaun Edwards
• Andrew Farrell
• Neil Fox
• Ellery Hanley
• Willie Horne

• Vince Karalius
• Joe Lydon
• Roger Millward
• Alex Murphy
• Steve Norton
• Martin Offiah

• Jonty Parkin
• Malcolm Reilly
• Jason Robinson
• Garry Schofield
• Cec Thompson
• Harold Wagstaff

See also

• Rugby league in England
• European Nations Cup
• Great Britain national rugby league team
• England results

External links

• RFL England page
• Google-Video