England v Kiwis

Sunday 1st November - KC Stadium, Hull KO 5pm


Saturday 7th November - Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London KO 2.30pm


Saturday 14th November - DW Stadium, Wigan KO 1pm


I will be going to the Olympic Stadium and I'm pretty excited about it but at the same time a bit worried that there has been absolutely no advertising of this series anywhere and that me, an old man and his dog will be there for the second test in London. Or am I being paranoid and will it be a decent turn-out? Hopefully!

Anyway, a shame about the loss of GBurgess and I'm a bit apprehensive about how good we are in the halves. But I think we've got a good chance. Even without GBurgess I think we've got some cracking forwards Graham Hill Walmsley TBurgess Cooper Cuthbertson, can't grumble at that. Our strength in depth at hooker (Roby Clark McIlorum Hodgson) and on the wing (Hall Briscoe JBurgess McGillvery) is excellent. And two centres I'm especially excited about seeing in this series in Watkins and Reed and we have Hardaker and STomkins to challenge it out for full back (I'd go with Hardaker).

While in the past we've had some very good England and Great Britain teams, our strength in depth has been paper thin. We're now seriously talking of two, three and four players of NRL/top international class players for most positions (apart from, as I said, in the halves).

Hopefully you all turn out for one or more of the games.

I'm planning on going to London and the DW.

So disappointed that Shaun Johnson won't be playing, though.

I planning to attend the 2nd test also. No idea when the RFL will actually start promoting these games though.

I'm going to the hull game (when the RFL decide to send the tickets out) can't wait but I agree, one of the main highlights for me was going to be seeing Shaun Johnson, gutted when I heard, plenty of opportunity to see other incredible players though.

Such a shame for the Kiwis and the spectacle overall. But they still have Foran Marshall Nikorima and others. While we're lacking in quality with experience in the halves outside Widdop.

Gale and Williams have had good seasons but they haven't played at that level before. McGuire has but doesn't often get picked for England anymore.

I'm going to the 2nd test too. I think it's a cracking idea to have it at the Olympic Stadium. Am I right in saying the capacity is approx 50k?
Either way I think it's an ideal stadium for us to try and base the England RL team at. Wembley is a bit too big whereas this is just the right size and crucially is still in London and still a significant stadium.

As for the likes of Johnson out, it's a shame but the Kiwis are still a huge challenge for us. If we win the series it'll be a huge achievement.

NZ-Nambia got 51K the other night which I believe is the current capacity. Some seats on the ends of the top tier are taped off in football/rugby mode (and will be for West Ham games) as the view isn't good enough.

I think anything above 40K will be a success for RL, but I agree with the OP they need to get a move on with the marketing. I also agree it could be a good permanent home for England games in London, working class East London in theory suits RL and the ground has great transport links.

Should have been advertising it over the last week as England v world "rugby" champions NZ at the Olympic Stadium. With the Union world cup on a lot of people would have assumed it was that!

Going to all three tests plus the Leeds v NZ game.
Expensive few weeks, especially if Leeds get through to Old Trafford but totally worth it.

You'd have thought they could have at least ambushed both RU games there this week and handed out leaflets near the ground and in the pubs, bought some billboard ads in the Tube stations etc. Many would have been diehard RU fans who wouldn't be interested, but I suspect there would have been thousands of Kiwi's who live in London who would give both codes a go, and neutrals who will turn out for any 'event' but I doubt they've done anything like that.

Thought we'd got good seats for London but looking at that photo it looks like most of the front block is almost at ground level.

So you don't know but thought you'd have a moan about it anyway. Classic RL fandom.