England Squad Changes for Final Ashes Test
England coach Shaun Wane has announced two alterations to his 19-man squad for Saturday’s third and final Ashes Test against Australia. Hull KR winger Joe Burgess and Leeds Rhinos centre Harry Newman are set to make their first England appearances in this autumn’s series.
Squad Adjustments
- Joe Burgess and Harry Newman replace the injured Dom Young and Jake Wardle.
- Dom Young suffered a broken foot in last week’s 14-4 defeat in the second Test.
- Jake Wardle, from Wigan Warriors, is also unavailable for this game.
Player Backgrounds
Burgess, originally from Wigan, is returning to the England team after a decade, last playing in a 2015 series victory over New Zealand. Newman previously played in England’s 2-0 series win over Samoa in 2024.
Other Potential Returns
- Leigh Leopards forward Owen Trout and St Helens hooker Daryl Clark may rejoin the squad, having been the 18th and 19th men in the previous game.
- John Bateman remains out after rolling his ankle before the second Test.
Wane’s Statement on the Series
“Of course, we are disappointed not to be going into this final game with the opportunity to win the Ashes, but the goal now is to come away from the series with a victory,” said Wane. “We did a lot of good things last week, but ultimately, we need to be even better if we want to get a win this weekend.”
Although Australia has already secured the series, England aims to end on a high at a sold-out AMT Headingley this Saturday.
Shaun Wane adjusts England's squad ahead of the last Ashes Test, aiming to finish on a positive note despite the series loss.