How England Tests against Tonga replace New Zealand because of global politics
ENGLAND’S rugby league team is believed to be an unlikely victim of global politics, including a multi-billion pound nuclear submarine deal.
That means they are playing Tonga in an Autumn Test series – which SunSport revealed in January – and not New Zealand.
England’s rugby league side will now play Tonga rather than New Zealand, with global politics a likely reasonGetty
And the fact a venue is not outside the game’s heartlands is thought to be down to one simple factor – cost.
The AUKUS agreement between the UK, US and Australia will see craft head Down Under as the countries try to stave off China’s growing influence in the region.
Australia will spend billions of dollars on five vessels, but it is likely to lead to significant investment into the country.
As a result, the NRL is bidding to get funds from the Government in Canberra, with the aim of pushing rugby league – which in turn helps the country – in the Pacific islands.
If it has the desired effect, that would effectively ringfence nations like new powerhouses Tonga and Samoa.
And the Kiwis, whose players appear in the NRL, are believed to have decided to stay at home this year, even though they had already stated their intention to tour.
Now Tonga, who will still get a cut of any money, are coming over as not having meaningful Test rugby on these shores would have hugely damaged the Rugby Football League’s coffers.
Next year is also likely to see World Cup finalists Samoa on these shores rather than champions Australia.
St Helens, Huddersfield and Leeds will host the Tests, leading to whinges from people, ‘Why not in Newcastle, London or Sheffield?’
SunSport understands the cost involved in hiring a St James’ Park, a top stadium in the capital or Bramall Lane at short notice could have placed the financial viability of the series under threat.
Tonga will face England at St Helens, Huddersfield and Leeds
In other words, not enough fans may have turned up to make it pay – and why announce the matches only six months before they are played?
Well, rugby league fans could actually have been waiting longer had both the RFL and Tonga not grown fed up of waiting for the collective bargaining agreement between the Australia Rugby League Commission, the NRL and its players to be signed off.
SunSport understands RFL officials reacted furiously to the news the Kiwis would not come as it left Shaun Wane’s side between a rock and a hard place.
But the Tonga series’ confirmation means the second-string Knights will contest the European Championships against Ireland, Scotland and Serbia.
