England’s Rugby League World Cup campaign has ended in unprecedented embarrassment, with both the men’s and women’s squads eliminated during the pool stage. Brian McDermott’s men failed to reach the semi-finals for the first time in the competition’s history, a blow sealed by Tonga’s narrow victory over Samoa in Sydney. Despite a dominant win over France, the squad’s clunky performance against Papua New Guinea in Wollongong, following an opening loss to Tonga, effectively ended their tournament hopes.
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The women’s team faced an even starker reality check, highlighting a significant gap in global competitiveness. Australia delivered a 78-0 demolition that underscored the disparity in talent and depth, while Samoa also proved too strong with a convincing 24-6 victory on Friday. These heavy defeats have left the Rugby Football League (RFL) with urgent questions regarding player development and tactical strategy.
In response to the double shock, the RFL has turned to a panel of past greats to diagnose the failures and chart a path forward. The move signals a major strategic pivot, relying on the experience of former stars to identify the shortcomings that led to such a historic collapse. As the dust settles on a disastrous World Cup, the focus now shifts to how these legends will reshape the future of the national teams.
Source: The Independent Sport
