England RLWC squad: Lewis in, Ashton starts, Foubister named — SkimNews
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- Mikey Lewis returns to England's 19-man squad as an interchange player for the Rugby League World Cup match against France, after missing selection in the opening defeat to Tonga
- Matty Ashton replaces Zach Eckersley on the wing for England's men's team, becoming one of two unused substitutes in the Tonga match before earning a starting spot
- Jenna Foubister is named to start at half-back for England Women against Australia, a surprise selection after winning Woman of Steel and coming off the bench in the win over Wales
- Luke Thompson starts at prop for England men in place of injured Morgan Knowles, with AJ Brimson retaining full-back duties for the France clash in Perth
- France makes five changes to their starting lineup, including Thomas Lacans promoted to five-eighth and Amir Bourouh starting at hooker, as Ben Garcia shifts to lock
- England Women see multiple positional shifts, with Molly Jones replacing Georgia Wilson in the centres and Liv Wood starting at prop in place of Mary Coleman
Why it matters: The reshuffled squads reflect tactical recalibrations after England's heavy loss to Tonga, with youth and experience balanced for critical World Cup fixtures; Foubister’s start at 19 signals a high-stakes bet on emerging talent against defending champions Australia.
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