England and Samoa Scheduled for Two-Test Series This Autumn
In a highly anticipated development, England and Samoa are set to face off in a two-Test series later this autumn, reports indicate. The long-awaited clash between the two nations will finally come to fruition after initial plans for a three-match series were scaled down.
According to The Sun, the series will see Shaun Wane’s England squad take on the Samoans in a pair of contests, with one game rumored to be held at Headingley Stadium in Leeds and the other potentially at Wigan’s Brick Community Stadium.
The upcoming series will evoke memories of the dramatic 2022 Rugby League World Cup semi-final, where Samoa defeated England in a closely contested affair to advance to the final against eventual champions, Australia.
“The Test series had been in the works for some time, but Samoa’s late withdrawal last year to focus on the Pacific Championships had cast doubt on the fixture. However, it now appears the Samoans will be able to compete in both the international series and the regional tournament Down Under.”
While the initial plans called for a three-match contest, the series has been reduced to two games, providing English supporters with an end-of-season spectacle to look forward to. This also adds context to England’s one-off summer Test against France later this month, which Wane can now use as a stepping stone towards the Samoan series.
The eagerly anticipated clashes between England and Samoa will undoubtedly captivate rugby league enthusiasts, as the two nations look to settle the score in the aftermath of their dramatic World Cup encounter.
đź”— Source
