The Aporia · Lewis left out for England's Rugby League World Cup opener

England's Rugby League World Cup opening match against Tonga will see Harry Smith and captain George Williams starting as half-backs, with Mikey Lewis excluded from the initial lineup despite being part of the squad. The coach, Brian McDermott, has also chosen AJ Brimson over Jack Welsby for the full-back position, aiming to include heritage players in his selection strategy.

Written by AI on 2026-10-13, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

Story summary

Brian McDermott, the head coach of England's Rugby League team, selected Harry Smith alongside captain George Williams for the half-back roles in their World Cup opener against Tonga on Saturday. Notably, Mikey Lewis was left out entirely despite initially beating 2025 Super League Man Of Steel Jake Connor for a place on the squad. England will face Tonga in Perth, followed by matches against France and Papua New Guinea later this month. McDermott also chose AJ Brimson, an Australia-born player who qualifies through heritage, as one of four such players selected to ensure a strong squad lineup.

Written for “England Rugby League World Cup Team” on 2026-11-01, grounded in this article and the 0 other(s) covering the same event.

📰 England Rugby League World Cup Team

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Emma Smith

13 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

🔮 If Samoa win, England will be eliminated because of their inferior head-to-head record against Tonga.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · 68-point swing and a Tonga win - how England avoid World Cup exit

🔮 England were not expected to beat World Cup co-hosts and reigning champions Australia in Group A.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · Poor England suffer another Australia humiliation

🔮 England (36) 82 Tries: Farnworth 3, Young 3, Lewis 2, Ashton, Williams, Radley, Litten, Welsby, Brimson Goals: Savala 13 France (0) 0 After losing their opener, then watching Tonga and Samoa rack up huge victories, England knew only a massive win over France in Perth would keep alive their World Cup dreams.

2026-10-24 · assertive framing · England thrash France to keep alive World Cup hopes

🔮 The absence of the Sydney Roosters second-row forward will be sharply felt by Barrow's squad as they take on opponents who have lost just once since 2016 and remain the benchmark at international level.

2026-10-23 · assertive framing · What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas for England

🔮 They are generally considered second favourites this time around and were expected to win easily against the Fijians in Newcastle on Sunday.

2026-10-18 · assertive framing · New Zealand avoid World Cup shock against Fiji

🔮 Team selection and tactics are not, and that is where the former Leeds Rhinos coach will be questioned.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · McDermott seeks fix as England fight to save their World Cup

🔮 It was expected that Brian McDermott's team - ranked third in the world - would have enough to open their Group B-C campaign with victory over opponents ranked fifth. But they will now have to pick themselves up for coming group games against France and Papua New Guinea to try to secure a top-two finish in the combined six-team group table and secure a semi-final spot.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · England stunned by Tonga in World Cup opener

🔮 Wales could dream of causing a major upset.

2026-10-17 · assertive framing · England crush Women's World Cup debutants Wales

🔮 - Published Harry Smith has been named alongside captain George Williams in England's half-back roles for their Rugby League World Cup opening match against Tonga - with Mikey Lewis left out. Lewis, who pipped 2025 Super League Man Of Steel Jake Connor to a place in England's squad, has not even made the bench for Saturday's fixture.

2026-10-13 · assertive framing · Lewis left out for England's Rugby League World Cup opener

🔮 Half of all girls who play organised football say they would tell a female coach something they could not tell a parent or guardian, while for a male coach, the figure is just one in eight - but only 7% of the people coaching grassroots football in England are women.

2026-10-01 · assertive framing · Money, family and sexism - why the number of women coaches is dropping

Also by Emma Smith

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Poor England suffer another Australia humiliation

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England thrash France to keep alive World Cup hopes

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AJ Brimson has been chosen ahead of Jack Welsby in the key role for England's first game in Group B-C. McDermott indicated that he was keen to use heritage players - those who qualify for England through family background - to ensure the strongest possible squad. And Australia-born Brimson - who made his England debut in last year's Ashes series against the Kangaroos - is one of four such players in the squad, alongside England debutant Max King.

framing: assertive · carried by 1 article(s) · first seen 2026-10-13

2026-10-13 · BBC News

Lewis left out for England's Rugby League World Cup opener · assertive framing

- Published Harry Smith has been named alongside captain George Williams in England's half-back roles for their Rugby League World Cup opening match against Tonga - with Mikey Lewis left out. Lewis, who pipped 2025 Super League Man Of Steel Jake Connor to a place in England's squad, has not even made the bench for Saturday's fixture. asserted

who → publish → fixture

Hull KR's Lewis, who endured an inconsistent year, did enough to convince England head coach Brian McDermott that he should join captain Williams, the Warrington stand-off, and Wigan's Smith as half-back options. asserted

he → endure → options

But he will be one of three players, along with Ben Currie and Ben Talty, listed as non-playing reserves. asserted

he → list → reserves

England face Tonga in Perth on Saturday, before taking on France in the same city on 24 October and then Papua New Guinea in Wollongong on 30 October. asserted

England → face → October

McDermott, who succeeded Shaun Wane in April, has also made a major selection call at full-back. asserted

who → succeed → back

who → choose → King

Bulldogs prop King, born in Huddersfield while his Australian father David was a player there, features alongside fellow debutant Hugo Savala, part of Sydney Roosters' NRL Grand Final-winning squad. asserted

father → bear → squad

All of the men's and women's teams for the first round of matches between Thursday and Sunday were announced on Tuesday at 06:00 BST. asserted

All → announce → BST

England women's coach Stu Barrow named his squad for their opener against Wales on Saturday in Perth. asserted

Barrow → name → Perth

Jasmin Strange and Connie Boyd will make their international debuts, while uncapped Hope Millard is among the interchanges. asserted

Millard → make → interchanges

More follows. asserted

More → follow → ?

Lewis left out for England's Rugby League World Cup opener

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