England’s exit from Rugby League World Cup was a disaster years in the making | Aaron Bower

English rugby league needs systemic change and national side must be a higher priority after early exit

“England have gone backwards over the last eight to 10 years.” Damning words about the state of English rugby league, from an Australia head coach, no less. But what should be most troubling for anyone with any sort of power within the sport is that these comments are not recent: they were made by the then Kangaroos coach Ricky Stuart, almost two decades ago.

Stuart was speaking after England’s men were beaten in the semi-finals of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup but, as the national team head home from the tournament once again, his stance still holds weight today. England have failed to make it to the last four for the first time, having failed to qualify from a farcical group-stage format.

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