England World Cup Squad NamedThe England squad to travel to Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guineap for the 2017 Rugby League World Cup was named at lunchtime today and came hot on the heels of the news that one of its bright stars, Castelford’s Zak Hardaker, was definitely out of the World Cup and facing an uncertain future after failing a drugs test.



England’s World Cup campaign kicks off with a game against the hosts Australia at 20:05 (UK) on Friday the 27th October at AAMI Park in Melbourne, followed by group games against Lebanon and France.

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So no place for Liam Watts.
Not really a surprise I suppose due to has poor disciplinary record.
Lomax gets in due to Hardaker's stupidity.

Kevin Brown , surely not.

Someone has to carry the bags.

Really light in the 3/4s...as far as,I can see only the 4 staters, and maybe Ratchford and Bateman as cover, but they might be first choice in other positions.

Don't know if Stevie Ward having another operation, but realistically Whitehead a guaranteed spot, McMeekan had a better season, and Bateman and Currie probably ahead of him in the pecking order.

No stevie ward? If fit he should walk into that squad

It's hard to split Bateman, Currie and Ward as second-rowers (I'd say Currie is the best of them, just) but maybe the first two preferred because they dan fill centre. Certainly an argument for taking Ward ahead of Bateman because he'd be a better "tourist", but he doesn't get into first XIII.

Ward missing out is a shame but probably for the best, his shoulder might've gotten through the GF but maybe for the best he now rests it.

On merit, probably but from a purely selfish Rhinos POV I'd rather he stayed at home, rested, to then come back firing on all cylinders for 2018.

Ward will play for Wales

Not sure what Heightington offers over Ward.
Experience maybe and saves money on a plane ticket!

So the GF winner have 2 players in the WC squad and 9th place Warrington have 4...

How Chris Heighington has got in the squad over Ward is frankly disgraceful, how are we supposed to keep hold of our top players if anyone in the NRL is given preferential treatment

He's a prop and Ward's a back row. Heighington got in ahead of George Burgess, Watts etc.

no he plays in the second row for Cronulla and will almost certainly for England

Rumours Ward being called up to the Wales squad?

Id have him in the squad before bateman and heighinton. He's the most skillful back rower we'v got aswel as being rock solid in defence and hard to handle trucking the ball in. For me he's better than any backrower in that squad apart from S Burgess and possibly whitehead. Think curries quality aswel though and theres not much in it either way.

He doesn't. He plays bench prop for Cronulla and spells Fifita in the middle. Hasn't played back row for two years or more.

Im willing to bet my house on it that he has been picked for the back row

I'll take that bet - he's a middle forward nowadays and has been for about 4 years, Bennett 100% knows that.

Kevin Brown & Chris Hill, really ??!!

We'v got 5 out and out props plus sam burgess in the squad without heighinton,regardless of where he plays he's not needed,not english(im not against this if a player actually offers somthing we havnt got but heighington dosnt), bang average and about 60 year old. Shouldnt be anywhere near the squad when the likes of stevie ward miss out.

Could do with another winger in the squad aswel.

Im ok with the squad. Ward over heighington obviously and we are a three quarter light.Makinson over Brown is what i would have had too.

Leaving out Tony Clubb is a travesty.

Good alternative open field kicking option.

Indeed!!!

I've only just realised that there's no place for Sam Tomkins either.
He has to be better than either Lomax or Ratchford surely?