2025 Kangaroo tour of England and France
{{Short description|Rugby league tour by England}}
{{Infobox rugby league tour
| name = 2025 Kangaroo tour
| image =
| caption =
| date = 25 October 2025 – 8 November 2025
| manager =
| coach =
| captain =
| top point scorer =
| top try scorer =
| matchplayed = 3
| matchwon = 0
| matchdraw = 0
| matchlost = 0
| testplayed = 3
| testwon = 0
| testdraw = 0
| testlost = 0
| opponent1 = {{rl|ENG}}
| played1 = 3
| won1 = 0
| draw1 = 0
| lost1 = 0
| previous = 2020 (Cancelled)
| next = –
}}
The 2025 Kangaroo tour of England and France will be a tour by the Australia national rugby league team, in which the 2025 Ashes Series (branded as the ABK Beer Ashes Series for sponsorship reasons) will be contested.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/mar/26/rugby-league-ashes-australias-tour-to-feature-test-at-evertons-new-stadium|title=Oasis promoter behind rugby league’s Ashes series return to England|first=Aaron|last=Bower|date=March 26, 2025|via=The Guardian}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/articles/c20d350nv7eo|title=England v Australia: Rugby league Ashes series returns in 2025|date=March 26, 2025|website=BBC Sport}} The tour will occur following the conclusions of the domestic seasons in the UK and Australia.
The tour was originally scheduled be a tour of Australia by England. However, in October 2024, talks began regarding moving the tour to England, thus making Australia the tourists.
The tour marks the first time the men's rugby league Ashes has been contested since 2003.{{cite web |title=Kangaroos to return to England for ABK Beer Ashes Series |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63593/kangaroos-to-return-to-england-for-abk-beer-ashes-series |website=Rugby Football League |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=26 March 2025}}{{cite web |title=The battle for the Ashes ignites after 22 years |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2025/03/26/the-battle-for-the-ashes-ignites-after-22-years/ |website=National Rugby League |access-date=26 March 2025 |date=26 March 2025}}
Background
=New international calendar=
{{see also|2026 Rugby League World Cup#Legacy}}
Following France withdrawing as host and the subsequent cancellation of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup,{{cite news |title=France pulls out of hosting Rugby League World Cup |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/65601619 |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=BBC Sport |date=15 May 2023}}{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron |title=2025 Rugby League World Cup in doubt after France pull out of staging event |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/may/15/2025-rugby-league-world-cup-in-doubt-after-france-pull-out-of-staging-event |access-date=15 May 2023 |work=The Guardian |date=15 May 2023}} the International Rugby League saw need to revamp the international calendar. The confirmation of the replacement 2026 Rugby League World Cup came with it a selection of new and returning international rugby league competitions and tours between 2025 and 2030, including the return of The Ashes. The tournament return was to begin with England's 2025 tour of Australia, which would see the inaugural women's Ashes be played, and Australia's 2028 tour of England. The 2025 Ashes will be the first since the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-league/66390816|title=Southern hemisphere to host 2026 World Cup|date=August 3, 2023|website=BBC Sport}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/aug/03/rugby-league-world-cup-announced-2026|title=Reduced Rugby League World Cup to take place in 2026 |work=The Guardian}}
Previous Ashes revivals had been planned for 2020{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/45003817|title=Great Britain and Irish Lions to tour in 2019 and 2024|date=July 30, 2018|via=www.bbc.co.uk}} and 2024,{{Cite web|url=https://inews.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/rugby-league-olympics-2032-two-disciplines-1945494|title='Why can’t you have two disciplines of rugby?' - Rugby league plans to join Olympics by 2032|first=John|last=Davidson|date=October 31, 2022|website=The i Paper}} but were cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the aforementioned change to the international calendar as a result of the postponed World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/06/01/kangaroo-tour-cancelled-but-2022-option-now-being-explored/|title=Kangaroo tour cancelled but 2022 option being explored|date=June 1, 2020|website=National Rugby League}}
=Great Britain or England=
{{see also|Great Britain national rugby league team}}
{{rlnt|GBR}} were Australia's traditional Ashes opponents, having played against each other from 1908 to 2003. The Great Britain side started to disbanded started with the 1995 Rugby League World Cup in favour of the four home nations playing as individuals sides. This process was completed with the 2007 All Golds Tour, the centenary of the first ever international tour.
In 2024, the Rugby Football League (RFL) considered the return of the Great Britain team for the 2025 tour, and possibly all future away tours, with the hope that the return of a traditional sporting brand would help connect more people to the team.{{Cite news |last=Bower |first=Aaron |date=2024-07-15 |title=RFL considers reviving Great Britain Lions brand to replace England for tour |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/15/rugby-football-league-great-britain-lions-england-brand |access-date=2024-09-07 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}} However, in September of that year, the governing body confirmed during the new England kit launch that England would continue the 2025 tour as planned.{{Cite web |title=England Rugby League kit for 2024/25 revealed |url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63085/england-rugby-league-kit-for-202425-revealed- |access-date=2024-09-07 |website=www.rugby-league.com |language=en}} A fan poll was conducted in regards to this subject.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rfl-great-britain-rugby-league-95469/|title=RFL ask fans' opinion ahead of potential Great Britain Rugby League revival|first=Ollie|last=Mitchell|date=July 30, 2024}}
=Host change=
On 28 October 2024, the Australian Rugby League Commission announced talks were underway between themselves and Rugby League Commercial (a branch of the Rugby Football League) regarding the games being moved to England, with stadiums in Lancashire, Yorkshire, and London being considered for the venues.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/oct/28/rugby-league-2025-australia-ashes-series-makes-late-switch-to-england|title=Rugby league’s 2025 Ashes series makes late switch to England’s shores|date=October 28, 2024|website=the Guardian}}{{cite news |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/kangaroos-and-jillaroos-set-to-tour-england-after-2025-season-historic-revival-comes-after-22year-hiatus/news-story/d65286d4b4e26da15693d221f3e076a8 |title=Kangaroos and Jillaroos set to tour England after 2025 season, historic revival comes after 22-year hiatus |work=Herald Sun |date=28 October 2024 |url-access=subscription}} BBC Sport attributed the host change to Australia now hosting the 2026 Rugby League World Cup, originally to be hosted by France in 2025.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/articles/cn01xy7l41eo.amp|title=England v Australia Ashes series in 2025 set to take place|date=October 28, 2024|website=BBC Sport}}
Teams
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size: 90%; float: right; margin-left: 1em;" | |||
| colspan="4" | {{navbar-header|IRL Men's World Rankings|IRL Men's World Rankings}} | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| colspan=4 style="text-align:center;" |Official rankings as of December 2024 | |||
| Rank | {{abbr|Change|Change from June 2024}} | Team | {{abbr|Pts %|Percentage points}} |
| {{#ifeq: {{{1}}}|Australia|style="background:#F5DEB3;" |
!1
|{{steady}}||style="text-align:left;"|{{rl|Australia}}||style="text-align:right;"|100
|- {{#ifeq: {{{1}}}|England|style="background:#F5DEB3;"|}}
!3
|{{steady}}||style="text-align:left;"|{{rl|England}}||style="text-align:right;"|84
|}
Upon the announcement of the tour, Australia were the best ranked team in the world with England ranked third.
Australia had played England / Great Britain 162 times previously, winning 88, drawing 7, and losing 67.{{cite web |title=Head to Head |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/teams/australia/head2head.html |website=Rugby League Project |access-date=5 November 2023}}
The original Ashes ended in 2003 with 20 series wins to Australia and 19 to Great Britain. However 13 of the Australian wins came consecutively in the final 13 series, leaving Great Britain without an Ashes victory since 1970.
Venues
Before confirmation of a change of host, it was known Rugby League Commercial were be looking to stage the three tests in Lancashire, London, and Yorkshire. For the Lancashire venue, Wigan Warriors's Brick Community Stadium was reported as one of the favourites{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-reportedly-among-favourites-to-host-ashes-test-match-between-england-and-australia-in-2025-4855151|title=Wigan named among favourites to host England and Australia for Ashes Test match in 2025|date=November 6, 2024|website=Wigan Today}} along with Everton's Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/huge-premier-league-stadium-in-running-to-host-2025-ashes-test|title=Huge Premier League stadium in running to host rugby league Ashes Test|date=November 8, 2024|website=Love Rugby League}} In London, Wembley Stadium and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium were reporting as being the front runners. Finally, Leeds United's Elland Road and Hull FC's MKM Stadium were reported as the likely venues for the Yorkshire match.{{Cite web|url=https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/rugby-league/hull-fcs-mkm-stadium-considered-9698452.amp|title=Hull FC's MKM Stadium considered for Ashes series venue among marquee stadia|date=November 8, 2024|website=Hull Live}}
On 3 March 2025, it was reported that Wembley Stadium, Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium and Headingley Rugby Stadium would be the test venues with the RFL being close to confirming the change in host.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ashes-venues-revealed-as-wembley-and-premier-league-stadium-among-rfl-picks|title=Ashes venues revealed: Wembley, new Everton FC stadium among picks|date=March 3, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}} These venues were confirmed by the RFL on 26 March upon the official announcement of the change of host.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63593/kangaroos-to-return-to-england-for-abk-beer-ashes-series|title=Kangaroos to return to England for ABK Beer Ashes Series|website=www.rugby-league.com}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |
| London
! Leeds |
|---|
| Wembley Stadium |
| Capacity: 90,000
| Capacity: 52,888 | Capacity: 19,700 |
| 160px
| 250px | 160px |
| colspan=3 | {{OSM location map
| coord= {{coord|52.6097 |
| 2.1561}}
| zoom= 6 | float = center | caption = | title = | label1=Wembley Stadium | mark-coord1= {{coord|51|33|13|N|0|20|18|W}} | mark1 = Red pog.svg | label-pos1 = right | label-size1 = 11 | label-color1 = hard grey | mark-title1 = Wembley Stadium | label2=Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium | mark-coord2= {{coord|53|23|30|N|3|0|10|W}} | mark2 = Red pog.svg | label-pos2 = right | label-size2 = 11 | label-color2 = hard grey | mark-title2 = Bramley-Moore Dock Stadium | label3=Headingley Stadium | mark-coord3= {{coord|53|49|01|N|1|34|56|W}} | mark3 = Red pog.svg | label-pos3 = right | label-size3 = 11 | label-color3 = hard grey | mark-title3 = Headingley Stadium }} |
=Headingley criticism=
Criticism was made by fans in regards to Headingley's inclusion as a host venue, stating that the size of the ground showed lack of ambition from the RFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.seriousaboutrl.com/rugby-league-fans-ask-same-question-after-reported-ashes-venues-revealed-102160/amp/|title=Rugby League fans ask same question after reported Ashes venues revealed|first=Sam|last=Cook|date=March 4, 2025}} The RFL stated that the larger Elland Road, also in Leeds (37,645 capacity), was under consideration; however, unspecified logistical challenges prevented its inclusion. Further the RFL cited reasons for Headingley's inclusion, stating that the game would be a garenteed sell out thus increasing ticket sales in the first two games, and given that {{rlnt|England}} had played at Headingley in their previous two international series the ground felt like a home stadium to most of the players. The RFL were also keen to reward Leeds Rhinos for the increase in commercial revenue generated for the RFL by their recent stadium redevelopment.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/why-headingley-has-been-given-ashes-nod-as-venue-rationale-explained|title=Why AMT Headingley was picked as venue for rugby league Ashes decider|date=March 26, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}}
Ticketing
The Rugby Football League gave a two day priority window for anyone who had bought tickets to an England game with in the previous ten years as a way of rewarding loyal supporters. A two-week presale then followed for people who had registered interest in purchasing tickets before remaining tickets were put on general sale. 30,000 people had signed up for the presale in the first 24 hours,{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/2025-ashes-series-ticket-interest-astronomical-as-numbers-from-first-24-hours-revealed|title=2025 Ashes Series ticket interest astronomical as numbers from first 24 hours revealed|date=March 27, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}} this had rose to 50,000 by the start of presale.
Tickets were priced between £30 and £60 depending on category, with an additional £80 category at Wembley.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63615/everything-you-need-to-know-about-abk-beer-ashes-tickets|title=Everything you need to know about ABK Beer Ashes tickets!|website=www.rugby-league.com}}
60,000 were bought within the first 24 hours of presale. All seated tickets for Headingley, in addition to South and East stand terraces, had sold out in less than 80 minutes, leaving only the western standing terrace tickets available. All category one seats at Everton had also sold out within the first day.{{Cite web|url=https://www.rugby-league.com/article/63637/rugby-league-ashes-tickets-sales-surge-past-60,000-in-a-day|title=Rugby League Ashes tickets sales surge past 60,000 in a day|website=www.rugby-league.com}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/first-ashes-sell-out-imminent-following-unprecedented-ticket-sales|title=First rugby league Ashes sell-out imminent following 'unprecedented' sales|date=April 2, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}} By day two of presale, Headingley had sold out completely with over 75,000 tickets sold in total.{{Cite web|url=https://www.wigantoday.net/sport/rugby-league/wigan-warriors/england-v-australia-ashes-ticket-sales-surge-following-unprecedented-figures-5067826|title=England v Australia: Ashes ticket sales surge following ‘unprecedented’ figures|date=April 4, 2025|website=Wigan Today}} Everton sold out within hours of general sale,{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/second-ashes-sell-out-confirmed-as-everton-to-break-30-year-record|title=Everton new stadium to set rugby league record with second Ashes sell-out|date=April 14, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}} with an estimated fewer than 1,500 tickets available after presale.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/second-ashes-sell-out-imminent-as-wembley-setting-huge-records|title=Second rugby league Ashes sell-out imminent as Wembley setting records|date=April 11, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}}
Fixtures
In March 2025, Australia head coach Mal Meninga revealed in a interview with L'Indépendant that the three fixtures against England had been scheduled for 25 October, 1 November, and 8 November, and talks were in place for a warm up game against France to be played prior to the Ashes.{{Cite web|url=https://www.loverugbyleague.com/post/ashes-dates-revealed-as-australia-warm-up-game-in-france-on-agenda|title=Ashes dates 'revealed' as Australia warm-up game in France on agenda|date=March 18, 2025|website=Love Rugby League}} Fixtures against England were confirmed on 26 March.
{{rugbyleaguebox
|bg=
|date=25 October 2025
|score=
|1sthalf=
|2ndhalf=
|report= [https://www.intrl.sport/match-details/2446 Report]
|team1={{rlw-r|ENG}}
|try1=
|team2={{rl|AUS}}
|try2=
|goal2=
|drop2=
|stadium= Wembley Stadium, London
|attendance=
|referee=
|touch=
|manofmatch=
}}
----
{{rugbyleaguebox
|bg=
|date=1 November 2025
|score=
|1sthalf=
|2ndhalf=
|report= [https://www.intrl.sport/match-details/2447 Report]
|team1={{rlw-r|ENG}}
|try1=
|team2={{rl|AUS}}
|try2=
|goal2=
|drop2=
|stadium= Everton Stadium, Liverpool
|attendance=
|referee=
|touch=
|manofmatch=
}}
----
{{rugbyleaguebox
|bg=
|date=8 November 2025
|score=
|1sthalf=
|2ndhalf=
|report= [https://www.intrl.sport/match-details/2448 Report]
|team1={{rlw-r|ENG}}
|try1=
|team2={{rl|AUS}}
|try2=
|goal2=
|drop2=
|stadium= Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds
|attendance=
|referee=
|touch=
|manofmatch=
}}
Broadcasting
See also
References
{{reflist}}
{{2025 in rugby league}}
{{Rugby League Ashes series}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kangaroo tour of England and France}}
Category:2025 in Australian rugby league
Category:Australia national rugby league team tours