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]
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]
In 2019, an England reserve side called "England Lions" played Wales, losing 20–24, while the senior side was on tour against Papua New Guinea.[17]
