England Rugby League Hopes to End 30-Year Drought Against Australia in 2025 Ashes Series

Strategic Insights -

George Williams, the 30-year-old captain of the England Men's Rugby League team, is drawing inspiration from England's cricketing counterparts as the team prepares to face Australia in the 2025 Ashes Series. The series, which will be played on home soil for the first time since the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Final, marks a significant moment in English rugby league history. With the last win against Australia dating back 30 years, Williams hopes that the team can follow in the footsteps of the England men's cricket team, who ended a 16-year drought against Australia in 2005.

Key Takeaways:

  • The 2025 Ashes Series marks 100 days until the opening test at Wembley Stadium, with tickets selling at a record-breaking pace, exceeding 60,000 sales on the first day of the priority sales window.
  • The series will be played over three tests, with the final match taking place at Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium on Saturday 8th November.
  • The Ashes Trophy will travel through the capital's streets aboard a classic London bus, giving fans and passers-by a glimpse of the trophy before reaching the Wembley arch.
  • The return of the Ashes Series is a significant moment in English rugby league history, with the team last facing Australia in a World Cup final in 2017.
  • The tour will kick off in Clapham, home to one of London's largest populations of expat Aussies, before heading to Liverpool and finally to Leeds.
  • England captain George Williams is eager for the team to end the 30-year drought against Australia, drawing inspiration from the 2005 cricket Ashes win.
  • Williams believes that a win against Australia would be a massive boost for the team and for the sport as a whole.
  • The 2025 Ashes Series is the first Ashes competition since 2003, when the Kangaroos last toured the UK under the Great Britain banner.

Statistics:

  • 30 years: the length of time since England last won against Australia in rugby league.
  • 16 years: the drought that the England men's cricket team faced against Australia before ending it in 2005.
  • 100 days: the countdown to the opening test at Wembley Stadium.
  • 60,000: the number of tickets sold on the first day of the priority sales window for the 2025 Ashes Series.
  • 3: the number of tests in the 2025 Ashes Series.
  • 25th October: the date of the first test at Wembley Stadium.
  • 1st November: the date of the second test in Liverpool.
  • 8th November: the date of the final test at Leeds Rhinos' Headingley Stadium.

Sources:

  • England Rugby League (@England_RL) - "Just 100 days until we welcome @Kangaroos to @WembleyStadium... Join us https://t.co/f3mCZVgVdl" (July 17, 2025)
  • England Rugby League (@England_RL) - "We're getting even closer to the opening test of the @ABKBeer Rugby League Ashes at @WembleyStadium... Get your tickets and support #EnglandRL now: https://t.co/f3mCZVgVdl" (July 17, 2025)