The 2023 Tonga rugby league tour of England was a three-match tour by the Tonga national rugby league team to England in October and November 2023.
Background
Official rankings ahead of the tourRankTeam480.00556.00
The tour was the first by a Pacific island nation to England and the first test match series between the two countries. England and Tonga had only played each other three times previously, twice during the 2006 Federation Shield and during the 2017 Rugby League World Cup Semi Final. All three games were won by England. Tonga however, beat Great Britain during the 2019 Lions tour of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
Venues
St Helens Huddersfield Leeds Totally Wicked Stadium Kirklees Stadium Headingley Capacity: 18,000 Capacity: 24,121 Capacity: 19,700
Squads England The England squad was announced on 17 October 2023. Morgan Smithies and Josh Thewlis were added on 31 October.
PlayerClubMatty Ashton Warrington WolvesJohn Bateman Wests TigersTom Burgess South Sydney RabbitohsDaryl Clark Warrington WolvesBen Currie Warrington WolvesTyler Dupree Wigan WarriorsLiam Farrell Wigan WarriorsChris Hill Huddersfield GiantsTom Johnstone Catalans DragonsToby King Wigan WarriorsMorgan Knowles St HelensMatty Lees St HelensMikey Lewis Hull KRTommy Makinson St HelensMike McMeeken Catalans DragonsRobbie Mulhern Leigh LeopardsHarry Newman Leeds RhinosVictor Radley Sydney RoostersHarry Smith Wigan WarriorsMorgan Smithies Canberra RaidersJosh Thewlis Warrington WolvesDanny Walker Warrington WolvesJack Welsby St HelensElliott Whitehead Canberra RaidersGeorge Williams (c) Warrington WolvesDom Young Newcastle Knights
Tonga Squad announced on 4 October 2023.
PlayerClub Manly Warringah Sea Eagles (c) New Zealand Warriors Gold Coast Titans Newcastle Knights South Sydney Rabbitohs St Helens St Helens Melbourne Storm Dolphins Dolphins South Sydney Rabbitohs Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Huddersfield Giants Manly Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Eels South Sydney Rabbitohs St. George Illawarra Dragons South Sydney Rabbitohs South Sydney Rabbitohs Wests Tigers Sydney Roosters Sydney Roosters
Matches First test
Second test
Third test The third test match of the series was played at Headingley Stadium as a double header with an England vs Wales women's international test match being played before the men's fixture.
Broadcasting All three matches of the tour were broadcast live on BBC One, except in Wales where the first two matches of the test series were shown on BBC Two Wales.
See also International rugby league in 2023
Notes
References