England Knights
Governing bodyRugby Football League
RegionEurope
CaptainTBA
Most capsJodie Broughton (5)
Top try-scorerJodie Broughton (6)
Top goal-scorerJordan Turner (9)
Top point-scorerLuke Gale (28)
First internationalKnights 38–18
(15 October 2011)
Largest winKnights 62–4
(16 June 2012)

England Knights is the feeder team for the England national rugby league team. The Knights play a key role in the development of emerging talent, allowing players to gain experience in an international environment and to compete for a place in the England first team.

History

1990s and 2000s: Background

The idea of a second England team originated in the 1990s as "Emerging England" to give young players a chance to play internationally before being called up to the senior side. Throughout the late 1990s and 2000s Emerging England played against the senior sides of developing nations. In another incarnation as "England A" (not to be confused with the Amateur Four Nations team), the team took on the Australian national rugby league team in the second game of the 2003 Kangaroo tour of Great Britain and France. Australia defeated England A 26–22 in front of 6,817 fans.

2011–13: Formation

England Knights were officially formed in 2011, eight years after England A played Australia. A squad of players under 25 were chosen play against France and where they came out 38–18 victors. The following year they competed in and won the 2012 European Championship and defeated Samoa in a 2013 test match.

2014–17: Hiatus

The England Knights team was not utilised between 2014 and 2017.

2018: Return

In 2018 it was announced that the Knights would go on a two series tour of Papua New Guinea.[1][2]

Competitive Records

Overview

OpponentMatchesWonDrawnLostWin %
Total870188%
Cumbria1100100%
1100100%
2200100%
1100100%
210150%
1100100%
1100100%

List

As England A
DateHome teamScoreAway teamCompetitionLocationAttendanceRef.
30 October 2002England A12–34Friendly[3]
28 October 2003England A22–26FriendlyGriffin Park, London6,817[4]
As England Knights
DateHome teamScoreAway teamCompetitionLocationAttendanceRef.
15 October 2011England Knights38–18Friendly2,071
22 October 2011Cumbria12–26England KnightsFriendly1,163[5]
16 June 2012England Knights62–4Friendly11,083
20 October 20124–56England Knights2012 European ChampionshipDeramore Park, Belfast[6]
28 October 201224–62England KnightsMeggetland Stadium, Edinburgh
19 October 2013England Knights52–16Friendly[7]
27 October 201812–16England Knights2018 Knights tourLae, Papua New Guinea
3 November 201832–22England KnightsPort Moresby, Papua New Guinea[8]
20 October 2019England Knights38–6FriendlyHeadingley Stadium, Leeds7,113[9]
15 October 2021England Knights56–4FriendlyWheldon Road, Castleford2,250[10][11]
1 October 2022France B6–18England KnightsFriendlyBordeaux[12]
9 October 20224–28England KnightsFriendlyEdinburgh[13]

Honours

Women's rugby

See also: England women's national rugby league team

On 26 July 2022, a women's knights team was launched. The team is managed by Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell.[14] The team called up a performance squad to training camps in 2023[15] and 2024.[16]

List of results

DateHome teamScoreAway teamCompetitionLocationAttendanceRef.
27 October 2022England Knights14–26FriendlyWeetwood Sports Park, Leeds[17]

References

  1. ^ "England Knights announce two-game tour of Papua New Guinea". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  2. ^ "England Knights to tour Papua New Guinea". 18 May 2018.
  3. ^ "Kiwi tour schedule". news.bbc.co.uk. 23 Oct 2002. Retrieved 20 Nov 2025.
  4. ^ "Kangaroos Tour 2003 Series - Game 1 - Rugby League Project". Archived 6 October 2016 at the Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "England Knights defeat Cumbria". Love Rugby League. 2011-10-22. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  6. ^ "England Knights ran in ten tries to thrash Ireland 56-4 in the Alitalia Cup in Belfast". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  7. ^ "England Knights hammer Samoa in Rugby League World Cup warm-up". The Observer. Press Association. 2013-10-19. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  8. ^ "England Knights beaten in Papua New Guinea". Love Rugby League. 2018-11-03. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  9. ^ "England Knights 38 Jamaica 6: Minikin hat-trick scures Knights win". 20 October 2019. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  10. ^ "Youthful England Knights defeat Jamaica". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  11. ^ "Jamaica 4-56 England Knights: Paul Anderson's young stars shine against Reggae Warriors". Sky Sports. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  12. ^ "England Knights topple France B in Bordeaux". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-05-07.
  13. ^ "England Knights put Scotland to the sword". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  14. ^ "England Knights squad launched for women with Lois Forsell as coach". 26 July 2022.
  15. ^ "England Rugby League: Women's Knights Performance Squad announcement". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  16. ^ "England Women name Senior and Knights National Performance Squads". www.rugby-league.com. Retrieved 2024-04-25.
  17. ^ "England Knights 14 v 24 Cook Islands"