Litten and Knowles in for England as O’Neill drops out
England have reshuffled their men’s team for a must-win Rugby League World Cup match against Papua New Guinea, with Jez Litten and Morgan Knowles entering the starting line-up and Brad O’Neill left out. England need a win to keep their semi-final hopes alive after losing to Tonga and then beating France 82-0.
Knowles returns after missing the first two matches with a calf injury, while Victor Radley moves to the bench and Litten takes the hooker role. England must also hope Tonga beat Samoa: if Samoa win, England are eliminated; if Tonga win, points difference decides, with England currently 68 points behind Samoa. The article also reports changes to the women’s team, who must beat Samoa to reach the semi-finals.
In short
- Litten and Knowles start against Papua New Guinea.
- England’s men need a win to stay in contention.
- The women also face a must-win match against Samoa.
Explained simply
The Rugby League World Cup is an international tournament in which national teams compete for the title. England’s men are in a group with Tonga, Samoa, France and Papua New Guinea, and the group results determine which teams advance to the semi-finals.
England’s route depends on the group table, including the result of Tonga’s match against Samoa. Points difference—the gap between points a team scores and concedes—can separate teams with the same results. England’s women are also competing in the tournament, in a separate group where results determine who reaches the semi-finals.
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