RFL International test match: France v England

England travel to France for test match warm-up for Four Nations

The RFL international Test Match between France and England will take place this Saturday, October 22. The Test Match between the two nations is the first game in charge for new England Head Coach, Wayne Bennett. Rugby League fans are eager to get their first glimpse of Bennett’s England team in action. Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs prop James Graham will captain the side for the first time since 2010, as Sam Burgess serves a one-match suspension after New England Coach Bennett had confirmed Burgess as captain for the clash, in the absence of the injured Sean O’Loughlin.

Burgess will lead his side into the Ladbrokes Four Nations at a sold out John Smiths Stadium in Huddersfield a week later in England’s first game of the Four Nations tournament. The 2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations featuring England, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland starts on Friday, October 28.

2016 Ladbrokes Four Nations Schedule

Friday October 28 Australia v Scotland, Lightstream Stadium, Hull
Saturday October 29 England v New Zealand, The John Smith’s Stadium, Huddersfield
Saturday November 5 England v Scotland, Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Saturday November 5 New Zealand v Australia, Ricoh Arena, Coventry
Friday November 11 New Zealand v Scotland, The Zebra Claims Stadium, Workington
Sunday November 13 England v Australia, The London Stadium, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London
Sunday November 20 Final, Anfield, Liverpool

Twenty-seven year old prop Slammin’ Sam Burgess is coming off the back of eleven Man of the Match awards in 23 NRL games, and will be one of the key players this fall in the 2016 Autumn Internationals. Buy legal, authentic Autumn Internationals tickets now from the extensive LiveRugbyTickets.co.uk rugby union ticket marketplace.

Backing up Burgess in the props are twins George and Tom Burgess - all three rugby players represent Australian side South Sydney Rabbitohs. The twins have impressive power and pace that will be key in Wayne Bennett’s starting XIII over the course of the Four Nations. Stefan Ratchford and Mark Percival may make their England debuts in England’s warm up match with France at Parc des Sports stadium in Avignon, France on Saturday, October 22. England coach Bennett has named six uncapped players in his 19-man squad. Leeds Rhinos' Stevie Ward is among those selected, after missing seven months of the season because of injury. St Helens' Mark Percival, and Jonny Lomax are included, along with Hull FC's Scott Taylor, Castleford's Luke Gale, and Stefan Ratchford of Warrington.

England who are third in the world rankings, will use the Test against fifth ranked France as their final warm-up match prior to the start of the Four Nations Tournament. Prior to being hired by England, Bennett spent his entire career in his native Australia, coaching Brisbane Broncos in 578 games. He is the most successful coach in the history of the rugby in Australia. The game in Avignon is England's first match since Bennett succeeded Steve McNamara in February. England begin their Four Nations campaign against New Zealand on October 29, they go face to face with Scotland on November 5, and against Australia on November 13 in the Four Nations competition.

Wayne Bennett’s squad features seven players with experience in the National Rugby League, the premier competition for club sides in Australia and New Zealand. Former Brisbane Broncos manager Bennett is unsure how his team compares to the down-under sides, but is confident the experience of his senior players will be a big factor. "James and Sam and the rest have played against the Australian players on a regular basis," said Bennett. "There is nothing they haven't been confronted with before. That will take a lot of the doubt out of their minds in terms of what we can do and what we can't."

England Squad v France

Kevin Brown (Widnes Vikings), George Burgess, Thomas Burgess (both South Sydney Rabbitohs), Daryl Clark (Warrington Wolves), Mike Cooper (Warrington Wolves/St George-Illwarra Dragons), Liam Farrell (Wigan Warriors), Luke Gale (Castleford Tigers), James Graham (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs), Ryan Hall (Leeds Rhinos), Josh Hodgson (Canberra Raiders), Jonny Lomax (St Helens), Jermaine McGillvary (Huddersfield Giants), Mark Percival (St Helens), Stefan Ratchford (Warrington Wolves), Scott Taylor (Hull FC), Stevie Ward, Kallum Watkins (both Leeds Rhinos), Elliott Whitehead (Canberra Raiders), Gareth Widdop (St George Illawarra Dragons).

Scott Taylor enjoyed a fantastic season at Hull FC, winning the Challenge Cup last season. Taylor said it would be "awesome" to win his first England cap, even though the Four Nations will be "really tough".

"You can tell from the game they will come here to play," said Taylor. "But the talent in this squad is unbelievable. The pundits probably won't have us making the final but that is fine by us. We are more than capable of winning this. We have a real good balance of lads coming into the squad for the first time, like myself, and experienced boys like Sam Burgess and James Graham, who have done it all." Although Australian Bennett has an imposing reputation, Taylor said the 66-year-old was easy to be around "because he is so honest". Saying Bennett is "arguably the best coach in the world", Taylor added, "He has done so many things in his career, he has an aura about him. When he walks into a room, everyone knows he is there. There is no intimidation. He has done a great job bringing the group together in three or four days. It really feels like a team."

Twenty-two year old Leed Rhinos forward Stevie Ward says his England debut will be "magical" following a knee injury-hit 12 months ago. Ward replaced Brett Ferres in the squad. "It would be a bizarre moment, absolute elation and a dream accomplished, putting an England shirt on," said Ward. Ward was going on a three week end-of-season road trip around the USA with Leeds team-mate Adam Cuthbertson when he learned that he had been called up for the England side.

"It's been a rollercoaster year, 2016," said Ward "It was great to get those four games in for the Rhinos and hopefully the fifth game could be an England international debut. I'm proud to be taking part and just glad to have overcome all these challenges, from an injury and everything else, it's pretty magical really. Luckily for me I've been in a pretty good spot when I've been playing and I can deal with things, but there are so many people who suffer with mental illness while they are playing. It's not great that people carry on and don't speak much about it because it is this macho sport where people don't deal with it, added Ward. “But I'm here at the England camp and people know I've spoken out about it and it's something that needs to be looked at constantly."