England name unchanged 19-man squad for Rugby League World Cup clash with France in Perth

England coach Brian McDermott has named an unchanged 19-man squad to face France in Perth on Saturday in the Rugby League World Cup, after a 30-12 opening defeat by Tonga. AJ Brimson retains the full-back role in the match-day XIII while Jack Welsby is named among the interchanges.

England’s 30-12 loss to Tonga was the side’s first-ever defeat by that nation and has put their semi-final prospects under pressure; the men’s match in Perth is scheduled to kick off at 07.35 BST. McDermott has kept faith with the same players for the Group B-C fixture despite concerns raised by last weekend’s result.

England men: AJ Brimson, Dom Young, Hugo Savala, Herbie Farnworth, Zach Eckersley, George Williams, Harry Smith, Max King, Brad O'Neill, Luke Thompson, Junior Nsemba, Kai Pearce-Paul, Victor Radley. Interchange: Jez Litten, Ben Currie, Ethan Havard, Sam Walters, Jack Welsby, Matty Ashton. Reserves: Kallum Watkins, Mikey Lewis, Ben Talty.

AJ Brimson scored one of England’s two tries in the opening defeat to Tonga and keeps his place at full-back. Luke Thompson will continue at prop after that game, with Morgan Knowles still not fit to play following the injury picked up before the Tonga match.

Mikey Lewis, a debated selection against Jake Connor ahead of the tournament, remains outside the match-day team. Harry Smith will continue in the halves alongside captain George Williams despite both being overpowered by Tonga last weekend.

England women’s coach Stuart Barrow has made several changes for Saturday’s match against Australia, naming Jenna Foubister at half-back in place of Georgia Roche; Foubister was named Woman of Steel after her season with Wigan Warriors. The 19-year-old, who scored on her debut in a 62-0 win against Wales in August 2025, will partner Izzy Rowe in the halves; Rowe scored two tries and kicked nine conversions for 26 points as England opened with a 70-6 win over Wales, equalling the record for most points by an individual England player in a Women’s World Cup match.

Two other changes to the women’s XV see Molly Jones replace Georgia Wilson in the centres and Liv Wood start at prop ahead of Mary Coleman, with Lucie Sams named among the interchanges. England women: Fran Goldthorpe, Anna Davies, Molly Jones, Connie Boyd, Amelia Brown, Izzy Rowe, Jenna Foubister, Liv Wood, Keara Bennett, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Jasmin Strange, Eva Hunter, Megan Williams. Interchange: Jodie Cunningham, Vicky Whitfield, Georgia Roche, Lucie Sams. Reserves: Mary Coleman, Georgia Wilson, Lucy Murray.

Wales coach Thomas Brindle has made several changes for his side’s fixture against Samoa, with Amberley Ruck starting in place of Ffion Lewis and Zoe Heeley moving from centre to the wing. Wales women: Leanne Burnell, Zoe Heeley, Jade Mullen, Hannah Bluck, Sian Williams, Amberley Ruck, Tayla Preston, Agnes Wood, Jasmine Gibbons, Emily Hughes, Georgia Cussons, Paige Travis, Bethan Dainton. Interchange: Carys Marsh, Kathryn Salter, Erin Williams, Gracie Hobbs. Reserves: Ffion Lewis, Lucia Davies, Frances Layton, Katie Carr.

Australia coach Kevin Walters has moved Reece Walsh to the bench for Sunday’s group game against Fiji (09.05 GMT), with James Tedesco replacing Walsh and captaining the co-hosts. Walsh, who had not played since 15 August amid injury troubles, scored a try but kicked two of five conversions as Australia edged New Zealand 24-22 at Sydney Football Stadium; Walters has made five changes, with Bradman Best, Sam Walker and Blayke Brailey set to make their Test debuts. Tedesco won the Clive Churchill medal as the Sydney Roosters beat Newcastle Knights 19-18 on 4 October, takes the captain’s armband from Isaah Yeo, who is rested, and Yeo has delayed surgery on a torn pectoral muscle to play at the World Cup.

England must now win their next two group matches, against France on Saturday and Papua New Guinea on 30 October, to stand a realistic chance of progressing to the semi-finals; because of the tournament format they will likely need substantial winning margins, and their fate may not be decided until Tonga’s final group game against Samoa two days later.