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.
Competitive Records
Overview OpponentMatchesWonDrawnLostWin % Total 8 7 0 1 88% Cumbria 1 1 0 0 100% 1 1 0 0 100% 2 2 0 0 100% 1 1 0 0 100% 2 1 0 1 50% 1 1 0 0 100% 1 1 0 0 100%
List As England A
Date Home team Score Away team Competition Location Attendance Ref.30 October 2002 England A12–34Friendly28 October 2003 England A22–26FriendlyGriffin Park, London6,817
As England Knights
Date Home team Score Away team Competition Location Attendance Ref.15 October 2011 England Knights38–18Friendly2,07122 October 2011 Cumbria12–26 England KnightsFriendly1,16316 June 2012 England Knights62–4Friendly11,08320 October 20124–56 England Knights2012 European ChampionshipDeramore Park, Belfast28 October 201224–62 England KnightsMeggetland Stadium, Edinburgh19 October 2013 England Knights52–16Friendly 27 October 2018 12–16 England Knights2018 Knights tour Lae, Papua New Guinea3 November 2018 32–22 England Knights Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea20 October 2019 England Knights 38–6FriendlyHeadingley Stadium, Leeds7,11315 October 2021 England Knights 56–4FriendlyWheldon Road, Castleford2,2501 October 2022 France B 6–18 England KnightsFriendlyBordeaux9 October 2022 4–28 England KnightsFriendlyEdinburgh
Honours European Championship: 2012
Women's rugby
On 26 July 2022, a women's knights team was launched. The team is managed by Leeds Rhinos head coach Lois Forsell. The team called up a performance squad to training camps in 2023 and 2024.
List of results Date Home team Score Away team Competition Location Attendance Ref.27 October 2022 England Knights14–26FriendlyWeetwood Sports Park, Leeds
References
External links England Knights