England Retain Squad for World Cup Clash With France as Lewis Again Absent

What changed

England head coach Brian McDermott has named the same 19-man squad for Saturday’s Rugby League World Cup match against France. Lewis is absent again, despite England’s 30-12 defeat by Tonga in the opening game.

Why it matters

McDermott has chosen continuity after a heavy loss, leaving England’s response to come from the existing squad rather than a fresh selection. That makes Saturday a clear test of whether this group can recover quickly, while Lewis’s continued omission remains one of the match’s unanswered selection questions.