England will play the Combined Nations All Stars team in June in an effort to raise funds for Tonga, which was devastated by the recent tsunami and volcanic eruptions.
The match will be staged between the dates of June 17 and 19 and will also provide the English team with much-needed preparations ahead of the Rugby League World Cup in October.
The Combined Nations All Stars will wear specially designed jerseys in this fundraising match.
This is the second match of its kind after a similar match was held to assist former Hull and St Helens prop Mose Masoe, whose devastating spinal injury ended his career in 2020.
Last year’s game was played at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium and was won by the All Stars, 26-24.
The venue for this year’s match is still to be announced.
Big-name players to feature for All Stars
Tonga have become a force to be reckoned with in Rugby League and they showed their growth with an excellent semi-final run in the last World Cup.
There are many Tongans playing in England and France, many of whom had families who were directly affected by the devastation in Tonga.
The chairman of the Pacific Islands Rugby League Group, Carl Hall, said: “It will be an honor and a privilege for us to do our bit when the Combined Nations All Stars come together to face England this summer.”
Hall will again be managing the All Stars team.
The team will include Australian-born player Kelepi Tanginoa, former Warriors prop Chris Satae, and Peter Mata’utia of the Warrington Wolves.
More names will be announced in the coming weeks.
