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How to tune into Sport NationJohns: Why Rugby League Ashes need to be a classic
Nicholas Quinlan • October 10th, 2025 8:01 pm
For Rugby League to survive in England, the upcoming Rugby League Ashes series between Australia and England needs to be a classic, according to Matty Johns.
The state of Rugby League within England has been in decline over the last couple of years, with the RFL having faced threats from Sport England last month about its government funding being pulled.
With the sport facing plenty of pressure about its viability at an elite level, it is hoped that the Ashes, which will be contested for the first time in 22 years, will help it succeed in relevance and provide a boost to the sport's finances.
And this has led Johns to believe that the series between the Kangaroos and England is monumental if the sport is to be better than it is currently.
“The importance of this series for the English game is monumental,” Johns prefaced on SEN’s Morning Glory with Matty Johns.
“I think in the history of the English game…for it to survive and more to the point prosper, this series has to be a classic.
“We’ve got a situation over there at the moment, the salary cap compared to the NRL is minuscule, and it’s shortening all the time.
“The drama they have over there, and it’s not just specific to Rugby League, a lot of the big Rugby Union clubs in England have gone broke as well.
“And someone explained it to me like this; they said that the game survives on the broadcast rights, and the problem with England (is) the EPL is so monumental that they basically take all the money.”
The Rugby League Ashes will begin on October 25 (October 26 in Australia) at Wembley Stadium in London.
That will then be followed with matches played at the Hill Dickinson Stadium (the new home of Everton) and Headingley on November 1 and 8, respectively (2nd and 9th in Australia).
