Brian McDermott has named the England World Cup squad for 2026, with Sydney Roosters premiership winners Victor Radley and Hugo Savala among 10 NRL-based players in the 23-man group.
The squad was confirmed by the Rugby Football League on Monday 5 October, a day after Radley and Savala helped the Roosters win Sunday’s NRL Grand Final against Newcastle. Warrington Wolves’ George Williams will again captain the side.
The NRL contingent
Savala earns his first England call-up after an impressive season at the Roosters, while Radley returns to the England fold. Bulldogs prop Max King, who was born in Huddersfield, and Brisbane Broncos front-rower Ben Talty are the other new NRL names.
Dolphins centre Herbie Farnworth, the Dally M Centre of the Year, and Knights winger Dom Young, who played in Sunday’s Grand Final, are both included. Dolphins forward Morgan Knowles, Gold Coast’s AJ Brimson, Wests Tigers’ Kai Pearce-Paul and Canberra’s Morgan Smithies complete the NRL group.
Wigan lead the Super League picks
Wigan Warriors have seven players in the squad, including Man of Steel Brad O’Neill and winger Zach Eckersley. Warrington have three, Hull KR two and St Helens one, Jack Welsby. No Leeds Rhinos players were picked, so there is no place for Jake Connor.
Eckersley, Savala, King, Talty and Wigan forward Sam Walters are the five uncapped players in the squad.
What McDermott said
“The 38-man squad initially picked had talent and ambition running all the way through it. Twenty-three is a lean number to take to a World Cup, and the final decisions were incredibly difficult,” McDermott said.
England’s World Cup fixtures
England open against Tonga on Saturday 17 October and play France on Saturday 24 October, with both games at HBF Park in Perth. They then face Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on Friday 30 October.
England’s 23-man squad
- Matty Ashton (Warrington Wolves)
- AJ Brimson (Gold Coast Titans)
- Ben Currie (Warrington Wolves)
- Zach Eckersley (Wigan Warriors)
- Herbie Farnworth (Dolphins)
- Ethan Havard (Wigan Warriors)
- Max King (Bulldogs)
- Morgan Knowles (Dolphins)
- Mikey Lewis (Hull KR)
- Jez Litten (Hull KR)
- Junior Nsemba (Wigan Warriors)
- Brad O’Neill (Wigan Warriors)
- Kai Pearce-Paul (Wests Tigers)
- Victor Radley (Sydney Roosters)
- Hugo Savala (Sydney Roosters)
- Harry Smith (Wigan Warriors)
- Morgan Smithies (Canberra Raiders)
- Ben Talty (Brisbane Broncos)
- Luke Thompson (Wigan Warriors)
- Sam Walters (Wigan Warriors)
- Jack Welsby (St Helens)
- George Williams (Warrington Wolves, captain)
- Dom Young (Newcastle Knights)
The Kangaroos squad and the Jillaroos squad were both named earlier on Monday.
More News
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- NRL: Jillaroos Squad Named for World Cup, Brigginshaw Left Out
- NRL: Robert Toia Picks Tonga Over Kangaroos for World Cup
- NRL: Kalyn Ponga Escapes Ban for Grand Final High Shot on Radley
- NRL: Spencer Leniu Set to Join Parramatta After Grand Final Win
