After a pair of Rugby League World Cup semi-final exits in 2022, England's senior teams return to action on Saturday as France provide the opposition for both the men and the women at Halliwell Jones Stadium.
Here's everything you need to know about Saturday's double-header.
England Women v France
Where: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
When: 2.00pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
England’s last five: Lost 6-20 v New Zealand (RLWC semi-final, 14/11/22), Won 42-4 v Papua New Guinea (RLWC, 09/11/22), Won 54-4 v Canada (RLWC, 05/11/22), Won 72-4 v Brazil (RLWC, 01/11/22), Won 36-10 v France (18/06/22)
France's last five: Won 116-0 v Serbia (18/03/23), Lost 18-26 v Cook Islands (RLWC, 10/11/22), Lost 0-92 v Australia (RLWC, 06/11/22), Lost 0-46 v New Zealand (RLWC, 02/11/22), Lost 10-36 v England (18/06/22)
Previous meetings:
Test Match, 2022: England 36, France 10
Test Match, 2021: France 4, England 40
Test Match, 2018: France 4, England 54
Second Test, 2017: France 8, England 14
First Test, 2017: France 16, England 26
Total meetings: 19 (England 18, France 0, one draw)
Stuart Barrow's new era as England head coach begins with a home fixture against a team they have still never lost to in 19 previous meetings. With new skipper Jodie Cunningham leading the way and Woman of Steel Tara-Jane Stanley having begun 2023 in much the same form which won her the accolade last year, things are looking up for the new boss.
There is a point to prove for the national team after their 20-6 semi-final loss to New Zealand in last year's World Cup, with the result being a reflection on England's inability to force their way over the line often enough in good periods of pressure.
The spotlight will also be cast over Hollie-Mae Dodd and Georgia Roche, who have both signed recent deals to play a part in the Australian NRLW in 2023.
England squad: Savannah Andrade, Keara Bennett, Leah Burke, Jodie Cunningham, Hollie-Mae Dodd, Grace Field, Amy Hardcastle, Zoe Harris, Shona Hoyle, Tara Jones, Vicky Molyneux, Eboni Partington, Sinead Peach, Tara-Jane Stanley, Tamzin Renouf, Georgia Roche, Emily Rudge, Vicky Whitfield, Olivia Wood.
France squad: Elisa Akpa, Laureane Biville, Margot Canal, Lauriane Canet, Cloe Guillerot, Tallis Kuresa, Ines Legout, Sarah Menaa, Lise Michel, Zoe Pastre Courtine, Mahault Pommier, Perle Ramazeilles, Fanny Ramos, Alice Rieunaud, Justine Roses, Dorine Samarra, Manon Samarra, Salome Segala, Amael Vilanove, Nabila Zaghdoudi.
Sportsman stat: The 14-14 draw in the Second Test in 2015 is the only tie either of the two nations have ever been involved in since they formed international women's teams.
England Men v France
Where: Halliwell Jones Stadium, Warrington.
When: 4.30pm (BST)
TV: Sky Sports Arena
England’s last five: Lost 26-27 v Samoa (RLWC semi-final, 12/11/22), Won 46-6 v Papua New Guinea (RLWC quarter-final, 05/11/22), Won 94-4 v Greece (RLWC, 29/10/22), Won 42-18 v France (RLWC, 22/10/22), Won 60-6 v Samoa (RLWC, 15/10/22)
France's last five: Lost 4-62 v Samoa (RLWC, 30/10/22), Lost 18-42 @ England (RLWC, 22/10/22), Won 34-12 v Greece (RLWC, 17/10/22), Lost 10-30 v England (23/10/21), Won 28-10 v Scotland (European Championship, 10/11/18)
Betfred match winner odds (80 minutes): England 1/100, France 14/1, draw 28/1
First try scorer odds: Matty Ashton (England) 6/1, Ash Handley (England) 6/1, Josh Thewlis (England) 8/1, Toby King (England) 11/1, Jack Welsby (England) 11/1
Previous meetings:
World Cup, 2022: England 42, France 18
Test Match, 2021: France 10, England 30
Test Match, 2018: England 44, France 6
World Cup, 2017: England 36, France 6
Test Match, 2016: France 6, England 40
Total meetings: 49 (England 40, France 7, two draws)
Shaun Wane will be sending out a much-altered selection after a huge number of withdrawal's from his initially 40-player squad. As many as 15 players could make their debuts as England return to the field for the first time since their dramatic 27-26 golden-point extra-time defeat to Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium.
Exciting additions including the likes of Hull Kingston Rovers' Mikey Lewis and Salford Red Devils' Tyler Dupree are among those who could make their first appearances at senior level.
England squad: Matty Ashton, Ben Currie, Tyler Dupree, Ash Handley, James Harrison, Ethan Havard, Tom Holroyd, Toby King, Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Matty Nicholson, Kai Pearce-Paul, Harry Smith, Morgan Smithies, Josh Thewlis, Danny Walker, Jake Wardle, Jack Welsby, George Williams.
France squad: Tiaki Chan, Mathieu Cozza, Jordan Dezaria, Romain Franco, Mickael Goudemand, Louis Jouffret, Benjamin Jullien, Mathieu Jussaume, Matthieu Laguerre, Samisoni Langi, Paul Marcon, Anthony Marion, Arthur Mourgue, Arthur Romano, Cesar Rouge, Justin Sangare, Bastien Scimone, Ugo Tison, Florian Vaihen, Tanguy Zenon.
Sportsman stat: France's last victory over England came at Headingley in Leeds in 1981, the visitors winning 5-1 in a European Cup encounter.
*18+ | BeGambleAware | Odds Subject to Change
