Shaun Wane stays on as England coach after RFL review with senior players

After an RFL review involving senior players, Shaun Wane continues to serve as England’s coach.

Up until the 2025 Rugby League World Cup, Shaun Wane will remain the head coach of the England men’s rugby league side. The Rugby Football League has announced that Wane will continue in his position for an additional three years and for the upcoming World Cup in France, despite the disappointment of missing the final of the previous tournament on home soil.

The playing group has continued to support Wane despite the fact that England was defeated by Samoa in the World Cup semi-finals in extra time in London last year. According to The Guardian, senior RFL executives, including the chairman Simon Johnson, conducted a thorough evaluation in the off-season that included important discussions with key England players.Wane’s continued employment in the position received their unanimous support.

The RFL decided to prolong Wane’s contract to the 2025 World Cup based in large part on their perception of their relationship with his players. He continued to have widespread backing in the boardroom as well, with the governing body opting not to to explore potential alternatives should they decide to steer the England program in a different path. In the first days following the World Cup, Wane had told the RFL that he wanted to continue.

The performance of each of the England teams at the RLWC2021 was thoroughly reviewed and discussed by the RFL board, according to Johnson. “No detail was overlooked throughout the examination, which took into account contributions from staff, players, and coaches alike.At our board meeting in February, the report led to a fruitful, lively, and protracted discussion. We are sure that we have the appropriate individuals in place.

The RFL decided to restructure the coaching structure for the women’s squad while Wane will represent the men’s team at the upcoming World Cup. Craig Richards, who received word he wouldn’t be kept after England also advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s World Cup last year, has been replaced by Stuart Barrow. The wheelchair team’s coach will remain Tom Coyd, who guided England to World Cup victory.

The development of the 2025 World Cup will now come into focus. Wane’s team has a Test against France set for April, but it is yet unknown who they will play this fall. The RFL had hoped to persuade New Zealand to visit England since the world champions, Australia, had ruled themselves out of a tour there once more.

At the conclusion of this year, the Kiwis will face the Kangaroos. Although the parameters of the agreement have not yet been set in stone, the RFL is now optimistic that it will secure a three-Test series against Tonga.