2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England

Last updated

2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England
Date27 October – 2 November 2024
Coach(es)Ben Gardiner
Top point scorer(s) Junior Pauga (15)
Top try scorer(s) Deine Mariner (2) (3 each)
Summary
PWDL
Total
2002
Opponent
PWDL
Flag of England.svg  England
2 0 0 2

The 2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England was a two-match tour by the Samoa national rugby league team to England in October and November 2024. [1] [2]

Contents

Background

Organisation

The 2024 Samoa tour of England was being discussed between the two nations following the conclusion of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in addition to the previous year's Tonga tour of England. The tour was all but confirmed on 3 August 2023, when International Rugby League announced their long-awaited international calendar following the cancellation of the 2025 Rugby League World Cup. [3] [4] This initially did not happen with Samoa eventually declining their tour invitation on 9 November, in order to play in the returning Rugby League Pacific Championship (a competition which began in 2019 but never had a second edition due to the COVID-19 pandemic) for the 2024 edition. [5] [6] [7]

On 27 November, Samoa re-engaged talks about the potential test series, [8] [9] and on 13 June 2024 the tour was confirmed, but with only a two-match test series (one short of a traditional tour), [1] [2] with the hope that the reduced schedule would allow Samoa to compete in the 2024 Rugby League Pacific Championships as well. [10] [11]

In December 2024, International Rugby League Chairman Troy Grant revealed that the tour when ahead as a result of the Australian Rugby League Commission provided support to Samoa, with the Rugby League Samoa having reservations on the financial feasibility of the tour. [12]

Teams

Official rankings ahead of the tour [13] [14]
RankChangeTeamPts %
3Increase2.svg 1Flag of England.svg  England 74.00
4Decrease2.svg 1Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa 70.00

The tour was Samoa's first tour to a European Rugby League nation, and only the second of a Pacific Island Nation, after Tonga's 2023 tour. [15]

The games were the sixth and seventh meetings of the two sides with England winning all previous encounters except for the most recent – the 2021 World Cup semi-final.

Upon the initial planning of the tour, Samoa were above England in the World Rankings (still 3rd and 4th), but a successful 2023 test series against Tonga for England and an unsuccessful 2023 Pacific Championships for Samoa flipped these rankings.

During the tour, Samoa were based at York Knights's York Community Stadium. [16]

Venues

Wigan Leeds
Brick Community Stadium Headingley
Capacity: 25,138Capacity: 19,700
Wigan athletics dw stadium.jpg Headingley North Stand April 2019.jpg
2024 Samoa rugby league tour of England
Transparent.svg
Transparent.svg
20km
12miles
Red pog.svg
Headingley Stadium
Red pog.svg
Brick Community Stadium

Squads

England

A 31 man England train-on squad was announced on 6 September 2024. [17] The final squad was announced on 16 October 2024. [18] [19]

PlayerClub
Matty Ashton Warrington Wolves
John Bateman Warrington Wolves
Tom Burgess South Sydney Rabbitohs
Daryl Clark St Helens
Ben Currie Warrington Wolves
Herbie Farnworth Dolphins
Ethan Havard Wigan Warriors
Chris Hill Huddersfield Giants
Morgan Knowles St Helens
Matty Lees St Helens
Mikey Lewis Hull KR
Liam Marshall Wigan Warriors
Mike McMeeken Catalans Dragons
Junior Nsemba Wigan Warriors
Harry Newman Leeds Rhinos
Kai Pearce-Paul Newcastle Knights
Victor Radley Sydney Roosters
Harry Smith Wigan Warriors
Morgan Smithies Canberra Raiders
Luke Thompson Wigan Warriors
Danny Walker Warrington Wolves
Jack Welsby St Helens
George Williams (C) Warrington Wolves
Dom Young Sydney Roosters

Samoa

The Samoa squad was announced on 9 October 2024. [20]

PlayerClub
Anthony Milford Dolphins
Blaize Talagi Parramatta Eels
Deine Mariner Brisbane Broncos
Francis Molo St George Illawarra Dragons
Gordon Chan Kum Tong Manly Sea Eagles
Izack Tago Penrith Panthers
Jake Tago Parramatta Eels
Jarome Luai (c) Wests Tigers
Jazz Tevaga Manly Sea Eagles
Jeral Skelton Wests Tigers
Jeremiah Nanai North Queensland Cowboys
John Asiata Leigh Leopards
Josiah Pahulu Gold Coast Titans
Junior Pauga Sydney Roosters
Keenan Palasia Leeds Rhinos
Lazarus Vaalepu Melbourne Storm
Luciano Leilua St George Illawarra Dragons
Paul Roache New Zealand Warriors
Ricky Leutele Leigh Leopards
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck New Zealand Warriors
Shawn Blore Melbourne Storm
Simi Sasagi Canberra Raiders
Terrell May Sydney Roosters

Matches

First test

The first test had an average television audience of 513,000, peaking at 682,000, equating to 7.2% of the audience share. [21]

27 October 2024
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
England  Flag of England.svg34–18Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
Tries: Farnworth 7',
Ashton 15', 58',
Williams 20',
Radley 49',
Lewis 71'
Goals: Smith (5/6) 8', 21', 50', 59', 72'
1st: 16–6
2nd: 18–12
Report (BBC)
Tries: Mariner 33', 53'
Chan Kum Tong 75'
Goals: Pauga (3/3) 34', 54', 76'
Brick Community Stadium, Wigan
Attendance: 15,137
Referee: Liam Moore (England)
Touch judges: Marcus Griffiths (England), Cameron Worsley (England)
Video referee: Jack Smith (England)
Player of the Match: George Williams (England)
Team details
EnglandPositionSamoa
NameNumberNumberName
Jack Welsby 1
FB
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Dom Young 2
WG
2 Jeral Skelton
Harry Newman 3
CE
3 Izack Tago
Herbie Farnworth 4
CE
4 Junior Pauga
Matty Ashton 5
WG
5 Deine Mariner
George Williams 66 Anthony Milford
Harry Smith 77 Jarome Luai
Ethan Havard 8
PR
8 Francis Molo
Daryl Clark 9
HK
9 Jazz Tevaga
Matty Lees 10
PF
10 Terrell May
Kai Pearce-Paul 11
SR
11 Shawn Blore
John Bateman 12
SR
12 Jeremiah Nanai
Victor Radley 1313 John Asiata
Mikey Lewis 14
IN
14 Blaize Talagi
Mike McMeeken 15
IN
15 Luciano Leilua
Morgan Knowles 16
IN
16 Gordon Chan Kum Tong
Tom Burgess 17
IN
17 Lazarus Vaalepu
Ben Currie 18
CS
18 Keenan Palasia
Shaun Wane
Coach
Ben Gardiner

Second test

The second test match of the series was played at Headingley Stadium as a double header with an England vs Wales women's international test match being played beforehand. [22]

2 November 2024
14:30 GMT (UTC±00:00)
Flag of England.svg  England 34–16Flag of Samoa.svg  Samoa
Tries: Marshall 17'
Williams 28'
Ashton 31'
Farnworth 37', 54' Welsby 67'
Goals: Smith (5/7) 5' (pen), 18', 40', 56', 68'
1st: 22–6
2nd: 12–10
Report (BBC)
Tries: Blore 8'
J. Tago 44'
Nanai 73'
Goals: Pauga (2/3) 9', 46'
Headingley, Leeds
Attendance: 16,068
Referee: Chris Kendall (England)
Touch judges: Warren Turley (England), Mark Craven (England)
Video referee: Ben Thaler (England)
Player of the Match: Herbie Farnworth (England)
Team details
EnglandPositionSamoa
NameNumberNumberName
Jack Welsby Ru ball.svg 67'1
FB
1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
Matty Ashton Ru ball.svg 31'2
WG
2 Jeral Skelton
Harry Newman 3
CE
23 Jake Tago Ru ball.svg 44'
Herbie Farnworth Ru ball.svg 37', 54'4
CE
4 Junior Pauga Rugby penalty.svg 9', 46'Yellow card.svg 25' to 35'
Liam Marshall Ru ball.svg 17'5
WG
5 Deine Mariner
George Williams Ru ball.svg 28'66 Blaize Talagi
Harry Smith Rugby penalty.svg 5' (pen)', 18', 40', 56', 68'77 Jarome Luai
Ethan Havard Sub off.svg 18', Sub on.svg 75'8
PR
8 Francis Molo Sub off.svg 27', Sub on.svg 68'
Daryl Clark Sub off.svg 59'9
HK
9 Jazz Tevaga Sub off.svg 27'
Matty Lees Sub off.svg 32', Sub on.svg 52'10
PF
10 Terrell May
John Bateman 11
SR
11 Shawn Blore Ru ball.svg 8'
Junior Nsemba Sub off.svg 65'12
SR
12 Jeremiah Nanai Ru ball.svg 73'
Victor Radley Sub off.svg 23', Sub on.svg 61'1313 Luciano Leilua Sub off.svg 51', Sub on.svg 68'
Mikey Lewis Sub on.svg 59'14
IN
14 Simi Sasagi
Morgan Knowles Sub on.svg 23', Sub off.svg 75'15
IN
15 Keenan Palasia Sub on.svg 27'
Mike McMeeken Sub on.svg 32', Sub off.svg 52', Sub on.svg 65'16
IN
16 Gordon Chan Kum Tong Sub on.svg 27'
Luke Thompson Sub on.svg 18'17
IN
17 Lazarus Vaalepu Sub on.svg 51'
Ben Currie 18
CS
18 Anthony Milford
Shaun Wane
Coach
Ben Gardiner

Broadcasting

Both matches of the tour were broadcast locally live on BBC Sport in the UK. [23] For countries outside the UK and Ireland, the games were streamed on Super League+, with select countries also televising the event. [24]

RegionBroadcaster
United Kingdom BBC Two
Australia Fox Sports
New Zealand Sky Sport
Pacific Islands Digicel
United States and Caribbean Fox Sports
ElsewhereSuperLeague+

References

  1. 1 2 "England to play Samoa in autumn Test Series". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 13 June 2024.
  2. 1 2 "England's men to host Samoa in two-Test series in October and November". BBC Sport. June 13, 2024.
  3. "Southern hemisphere to host 2026 World Cup". BBC Sport. August 3, 2023.
  4. "Rugby League World Cup: Southern hemisphere to host tournament in 2026 after France withdrawal". Sky Sports. 3 August 2023.
  5. "RFL exploring all options for 2024 as Samoa turn down England tour invite". www.rugby-league.com.
  6. "Samoa reject England invitation for 2024 test series; Shaun Wane's side 'exploring all options' ahead of Australia tour in 2025". Love Rugby League. November 9, 2023.
  7. Pattison, Cam (November 9, 2023). "Samoa turn down Test Series against England". Serious About Rugby League.
  8. "Rugby league: Samoa to re-engage with England over 2024 tour after International Rugby League steps in". Sky Sports.
  9. "Samoa and England talks re-open over proposed 2024 tour following IRL board meeting". Love Rugby League. November 27, 2023.
  10. "Venues revealed for England-Samoa rugby league Test series". Love Rugby League. June 13, 2024.
  11. McHugh, Robert (June 13, 2024). "Revealed: England set to confirm end-of-season opponents for historic Test Series".
  12. O'Hare, Michael (2 December 2024). "IRL chair Troy Grant on shrinking World Cup, northern hemisphere issues and growing international game". Total Rugby League. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
  13. "INTRL - World Rankings". Rugby League International Federation.
  14. "International Rugby League World Rankings: December 2023". Rugby League International Federation. 21 December 2023.
  15. "England to host Tonga in three-game Test series". National Rugby League. April 28, 2023.
  16. "Island nation to be based in York for historic England test series". York Press. October 11, 2024.
  17. "England squad: Junior Nsemba and Liam Marshall called up for Samoa series". BBC Sport. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 6 September 2024.
  18. "England squad: Junior Nsemba and Liam Marshall make cut for Samoa series". BBC Sport. October 16, 2024.
  19. "England Rugby League: Uncapped Wigan Warriors duo Junior Nsemba, Liam Marshall included in Samoa Test series squad". Sky Sports.
  20. "Super League trio in Samoa squad for England series with Jarome Luai named captain". Love Rugby League. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
  21. "England's first Test against Samoa draws huge viewing figures with full numbers revealed". Love Rugby League. 28 October 2024. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  22. "England confirm Wheelchair and Women's International Games". europeanrugbyleague.com. European Rugby League. 2 August 2024.
  23. "England's men to host Samoa in two-Test series in October and November". BBC Sport. 13 June 2024.
  24. "How to watch the ABK Beer Test Series on Sunday". www.rugby-league.com. RFL. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 25 October 2024.